Govt official: New Paks blocks will lead to carbon dioxide emissions cut of 17 million tonnes per year

New blocks being constructed for Hungary's sole nuclear power station in Paks will result in 17 million tonnes less carbon dioxide emissions each year, a government official said on Tuesday. Hungary's CO2 emissions amount to 12 million tonnes each year, Janos Suli, the minister without portfolio responsible for overseeing the Paks investment, told parliament's committee on sustainable development, adding that Hungary's forested areas absorb about 6 million tonnes of CO2 a year. He noted nuclear power guaranteed electricity supply regardless of the weather. Wind turbines, he added, contributed 94 megawatts and solar power plants only 9 megawatts to the peak of 7,105 megawatts of energy consumption last December.