Hungary will soon sign a major intergovernmental nuclear energy cooperation agreement with the United States, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó confirmed during his visit to Washington. The minister emphasized that Hungary’s rapid industrial expansion has sharply increased electricity demand, and atomic energy remains the most reliable, affordable, and climate-friendly solution for long-term supply.
To expand nuclear capacity, Hungary plans to diversify fuel sources. For the first time, the country will purchase nuclear fuel from US suppliers, complementing existing partnerships. Szijjártó also pointed to the introduction of modern American technology enabling the safe storage of spent fuel directly at the Paks Nuclear Power Plant, preventing environmental risks.
The agreement will additionally include cooperation on small modular reactors (SMRs), which could eventually power industrial zones and urban areas more efficiently.
Szijjártó described the pact, covering nuclear fuel procurement, waste storage and SMR development, as a new dimension in Hungarian–American relations. He also reiterated the importance of continued sanctions relief for the Paks expansion project. The construction previously faced delays after the Biden administration placed it under sanctions for political reasons, but the Trump administration later granted a temporary exemption, valid until December.
According to Szijjártó, US business participation in Paks is growing as well: a consortium including IBM is providing digitalization solutions for the new reactor units.
‘Hungary expects that this revived cooperation will help secure exemptions needed to protect its energy supplies’
He added that the upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and President Donald Trump—their sixth bilateral encounter—reflects a shift toward improved relations. Hungary expects that this revived cooperation will help secure exemptions needed to protect its energy supplies, particularly regarding imports of oil and natural gas from Russia.
The minister concluded that ensuring affordable energy remains essential for Hungarian households, warning that any restrictions on Russian energy sources could threaten supply security and significantly raise costs.
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