Hungary prepares tender for nuclear reactor privatization

The passage in late June of a nuclear energy law has paved the way for a new privatization tender to be announced in October for the Paks nuclear power plant, Magyar Hirlap reported on June 21, citing top officials. The Soviet-built nuclear plant supplies half of the country's electricity, and experts believe it is a safer Soviet model than Chernobyl. When the plant went on line in 1982, its life span was estimated at 30 years. But management says that in its present condition, the plant could be used for longer. It plans to extend the facility's life span by 10 to 15 years. During the privatization last year of the country's energy sector, Paks was put up for sale in a package with the core electricity company MVM but failed to find a buyer.