The content of this page will be updated soon.

The application of nuclear energy serves important national economic and social objectives, during which special attention must be paid to the safe management and disposal of radioactive waste in order to protect humanity and the environment. This viewpoint is represented in the Atomic Energy Act of Hungary (Act CXVI. of 1996):

"During the use of atomic energy, the safe final disposal of the generated radioactive wastes and spent nuclear fuel shall be provided in line with the latest justified scientific results and the international recommendations and experience in such a way that the future generations shall not be burdened more than acceptable."

§40 of the Atomic Energy Act declares clearly: "An organization designated by the Government shall make a proposal for the national policy and programme of the management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel and their revision, and perform the tasks related to the final disposal of radioactive wastes, interim storage of spent nuclear fuel and closing of the nuclear fuel cycle and decommissioning and dismantling of nuclear facilities."

According to §62 of the Atomic Energy Act, the tasks listed in the previous point shall be financed from a Central Nuclear Financial Fund (KNPA). KNPA was established on 1st of January, 1998 under the management of the minister responsible for overseeing the nuclear regulator, namely the minister of innovation and technology.

The Hungarian Government decreed in its Government Decree 2414/1997. (XII. 17.) that the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA) shall establish a non-profit organisation to fulfil the tasks of §40 of the Atomic Energy Act under the name of "Radioactive Waste Management Non-profit Company". The managing director of HAEA - considering all applicable legal regulations -, submitted the statute of incorporation for registration on the 2nd of June, 1998. On the 7th of January, 2008 the Radioactive Waste Management Non-profit Company was converted into the Public Limited Company for Radioactive Waste Management (PURAM). Since the 14th of November, 2013 the Hungarian National Asset Management Inc. (HNAM Inc.) exercises ownership rights over PURAM according to Act CXCVI of 2011 on National Assets.

The tasks of PURAM are defined in the Governmental Decree 15/2013. (VI. 21.) as authorized by §67, point f) of the Atomic Energy Act. According to the governmental decree PURAM performs tasks related to design, installation and storage activities, the decommissioning of nuclear facilities and the closing of the nuclear fuel cycle. The company may employ specialists or contractors to fulfil its tasks.

Among the design tasks of PURAM are to submit a proposal on the national policy on radioactive waste and spent fuel management, as well as on a national program on the application of the national policy, which shall be reviewed every five years. Another task of the company is to annually review the medium- and long-term plans of the activities to be financed from the Central Nuclear Financial Fund (KNPA). Based on this review the company submits a proposal on next year's KNPA budget, if the proposal is accepted an annual work program is developed on the activities funded by the KNPA. The detailed operational budget of our company is described in our annual business plan, which is approved by the HNAM Inc.

PURAM adheres to all relevant national and international regulations related to its tasks. Our accounting policy has been developed and is applied according to the accounting legislation in force. The operator of the KNPA, the Supervisory Board and the National Court of Auditors continuously monitor our activities. Their reviews confirm that PURAM performs its tasks effectively and according to the regulations.

The environmental and social principles and requirements that apply to the tasks of PURAM are specified in Act LIII. of 1995 on environmental protection and its executing decrees. According to these specifications in regard of radioactive waste management and spent nuclear fuel storage an environmental impact study is required, the results of which shall be taken into account during the licensing procedure. The environmental protection authority discloses the license request and its annexes, along with a simplified summary to the local and surrounding settlements, municipalities, local governmental bodies, and other stakeholders. The stakeholders may express their views or concerns in public hearings.

Besides providing information as specified by §10/A. of the Atomic Energy Act, PURAM - as the licensee of the radioactive waste repositories and the spent fuel interim storage facility-, also informs the citizens of those municipalities that surround the existing or planned storage and disposal facilities via local Controlling and Information Associations, for the purpose of direct communication and trust building. The associations receive funding from the KNPA in relation to their proximity to a facility or planned facility, which can be used to cover costs related to providing information, performing inspections, operation of the association, and development of the municipalities.

In accordance with our quality assurance and environmental policies PURAM operates an integrated quality assurance and environmental management system according to standards EMT MSZ EN ISO 9001:2015 and EMT MSZ EN ISO 14001:2015 which is regularly monitored by an accredited body. The company has been awarded certificates on the fulfilment of NQA MSZ EN ISO 9001:2015 and NQA MSZ EN ISO 14001:2015 standards.