Hungary will veto any European Union sanctions against Russia affecting nuclear energy, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told state radio on Friday.
Ukraine has called on the 27-nation EU to include Russian state nuclear energy company Rosatom in sanctions but Hungary, which has a Russian-built nuclear plant it plans to expand with Rosatom, has blocked that.
Orban reiterated in an interview that sanctions on nuclear energy “must obviously be vetoed”. We will not allow the plan to include nuclear energy into the sanctions be implemented,” says the Hungarian premier.
“This is out of the question.” EU member Hungary has repeatedly criticised EU sanctions on Russia over its invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, saying they failed to weaken Russia meaningfully, while they risk destroying the European economy.
The West has not imposed sanctions on Rosatom since Russia invaded Ukraine.
Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant has four small Russian-built VVER 440 reactors with a combined capacity of about 2,000 megawatts, which started operating between 1982 and 1987.
It generates about half its power and the plant gets its nuclear fuel from Russia. Under a deal signed in 2014 with Russia, Hungary aims to expand the Paks plant with two Russian-made VVER reactors with capacity of 1.2 gig watts each.
Source: SABC
In other news – DJ Hlo reportedly set to marry her married boss
DJ Hlo is reportedly set to marry her boss at iMaz Entertainment. The DJ whose real name is Hlosiwe Mthalane will be tying the knot with Dr Musa Zulu on Easter weekend.
The businessman’s first wife is Thulile Zulu who owns Maz Products Foundation Trust Fund with her husband. A source confirmed the news to ZiMoja. Learn more
