The deal is set to be signed as U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán later today, with energy ties to Russia expected to be on the agenda.
“We will sign a major intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in nuclear energy with my foreign minister colleague Marco Rubio,” Szijjártó said. Hungary remains one of the few EU member states maintaining close relations with Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine, and has resisted pressure to reduce its dependence on Russian energy sources.
Szijjártó confirmed Hungary would begin purchasing American nuclear fuel for the Paks nuclear plant to meet its growing energy needs. Russia’s Rosatom is currently constructing two new reactors at the site under the Paks II expansion project, a 2014 contract awarded without a public tender that has faced multiple delays.
“For the first time ever in Hungary’s energy history, we will also purchase American nuclear fuel in addition to maintaining existing supplier relations,” Szijjártó said. He added that Hungary would also acquire U.S. technology to allow for the safe on-site storage of spent fuel and that the agreement includes cooperation on small modular nuclear reactors.
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