Hungary's National Atomic Energy Office (OAH) has issued a license to extend the operating life of unit 2 of the Paks nuclear plant by 20 years until the end of 2034. Unit 1 was granted a similar license in 2012.

Plant operator MVM Paksi Atomeromu, which is owned by state energy holding company MVM, said in a statement that it expects to receive extensions to the operating licenses of units 3 and 4, which expire in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

World Nuclear News, which reported the license extension, says that Paks comprises four Russian-supplied VVER-440 pressurized water reactors, which started up between 1982 and 1987. Though originally 440 MWe gross, the units have been upgraded and will be modified further to give 500-510 MWe gross.

In early 2014, Hungary and Russia signed a cooperation agreement which included the construction of two new VVER reactors of up to 1,200 MWe each at Paks. The first new unit is expected to be commissioned in 2023, with the second following about two years later.