Russia’s state atomic energy corporation, Rosatom, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Human Capacities of Hungary to cooperate on personnel training in the field of nuclear energy.
According to the document, signed 17 February, the parties expressed their willingness to expand their cooperation in education and training, educational and scientific activities, as well as in joint training programmes in the nuclear industry. The MoU facilitates the organisation of exchange programmes involving undergraduate, graduate, PhD students and academics, which aim to provide the nuclear community with highly qualified personnel.
After signing the memorandum Zoltan Balog, the Minister of Human Capacities of Hungary, said: "This memorandum not only creates the legal framework for strengthening our long-standing cooperation in the academic and scientific fields, but it also allows continuing its good traditions. For many decades, our countries have jointly developed peaceful nuclear technologies. Many Hungarian nuclear engineers received their degree in Russia, and we know that the reliable operation of the four units of the Paks NPP can be attributed to their high qualification, too. Now it is necessary to prepare a new generation of professionals who will participate in the design, construction, and operation of the new units."
Rosatom, which in December signed a deal to build two nuclear units with the Russian VVER-1200 type reactors at Paks, offers "integrated solutions that, in addition to financing also include training of personnel," said CEO Sergei Kirienko.
The agreement is based on the Agreement on the Cooperation in the Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy of 14 January 2014 concluded between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of Hungary. That agreement prescribes providing training and skills development to the extent required by the Hungarian side.