The General Conference is the most important IAEA event of the year where member states have a general debate on the Annual Report for 2015. Moreover, the Conference is called upon to approve the Agency’s Budget Update for 2017. During the five-day Conference a number of side events is organised which gives the opportunity to the experts from member states to share their experiences, scientific results and developments.
Following the Fukushima accident in 2011, Hungary also performed the stress tests in relation to Paks Nuclear Power Plant to review its resistance against extreme hazards. The improvement actions decided upon the results were compiled to a National Action Plan that was published on the HAEA website. The EU initiated the review of the progress in the actions in 2013 and 2015 and concluded that they show a good development, moreover, good practices were identified among the solutions and offered them to the attention of other member state. In 2016, as part of the national report prepared for the triennial international review conference of the Convention on Nuclear Safety, the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority reviewed the National Action Plan again.
On 14 July, 2016, the unit 1 of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant was shut down as intended in the plant design and required by the nuclear safety regulations due to a malfunction in the instrumentation and control equipment. The exact determination and elimination of the malfunction has already been started. The automatic activation of the safety systems was not necessary because of the event and the safety of the unit has not been compromised. The current operating status of the reactor unit, which is in compliance with the nuclear safety regulations, is sustainable without a time limit, and the necessary repairs can be performed. After the determination and elimination of the malfunction, the unit will be restarted under the supervision of the HAEA.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority and the National Directorate General for Disaster Management, Ministry of the Interior held a joint press conference, and submitted a press release.