Nine-year transformation of Mátra Power Plant begins
The goal is to preserve livelihoods while reaching Hungary's 2050 carbon neutrality targets.
Minister of Innovation and Technology László Palkovics announced that the Ministry and the competent executive agency of the European Union signed a HUF 5.2 billion grant agreement in December. This supports the implementation of the National Energy and Climate Plan and the LIFE-IP North-HU-Trans project enabling the sustainable and fair transition of the Mátra Power Plant.
Through retraining and corporate mobilization programs, the nine-year transformation will address the situation of the affected workers, preserve mining culture and provide the training needed for new jobs.
Mátra Power Plant provides livelihoods for 2,100 employees and indirectly to about 4,000 families in the region. However, the coal-fired power plant is also responsible for 14 percent of Hungary’s carbon dioxide emissions, so it is essential to transform the power plant’s capacities to achieve Hungary’s 2050 carbon neutrality targets.
The transition and the newly created economic capacities mean long-term sustainable jobs in the region, including for the operation of solar power plants at the Mátra Power Plant sites, the operation of new types of power plant equipment and other labor needs of companies supporting the operation, Andrea Mager, minister without portfolio in charge of managing national assets, emphasized.
The technological transformation of the power plant will be implemented as a comprehensive regional development program in accordance with the Climate and Nature Conservation Action Plan. In addition to the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, national institutions, energy companies and other relevant actors in the region will participate in the implementation of the project.
