The cornerstone of the new combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) unit being built on the site of the Mátra Power Plant was laid in a ceremonial setting. Following the official event, construction work can begin on the large-scale power plant employing innovative technologies in Visonta. The cornerstone laying marks the beginning of a new era for MVM Group, as the power plant featuring the most advanced technology will provide a flexible and environmentally friendly solution.
The CCGT unit planned for Visonta received its construction permit from the Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority in late May. The new power generating plant will ensure uninterrupted electricity supply for the country and the region at the Visonta site of the Mátra Power Plant. An expected 520 MW of flexibly adjustable capacity will be established by 2028, also facilitating the balanced integration of new green energy producers into the system.
The new power plant will have a lifespan of at least 25 years and will implement the most advanced technology. Based on the international public procurement procedure, the winning consortium for the construction and long-term maintenance of the gas turbine consists of Status KPRIA Zrt. (a Hungarian-owned company belonging to the Mészáros Group), WEST HUNGÁRIA BAU Kft. (also with 100% Hungarian ownership background), and Elsewedy Power System Projects, part of Elsewedy Electric, one of Egypt’s leading industrial and energy companies. As a result of the tender, the parties signed the contract with MVM in February. During the investment, the contractor can rely on excellent local conditions and existing utility connections, among other advantages.
Technical parameters include efficiency requirements at the forefront, as well as compliance with nominal and minimum load, ramp-up and ramp-down speed, environmental emission limits, and availability reliability requirements. This framework ensures that a power plant can be built that corresponds to the current level of development, with the largest possible regulatory range, fast response capability, and flexible capacities.
Energy Minister Csaba Lantos emphasized in his ceremonial speech:
“No baseload power plant has been built in Hungary for a decade and a half. To balance weather-dependent renewable production, in addition to industrial-scale storage capacities, well-regulated combined cycle gas power plants are also needed. We have prepared the construction of a total of three units in Eastern Hungary, in Visonta and Tiszaújváros. The specific carbon dioxide emissions of the Mátra facility representing the most advanced technology will be only one-quarter of lignite-based electricity production. The new unit will play an indispensable role in strengthening domestic energy security and in the successful implementation of the energy transition.”
On behalf of MVM Group, CEO Károly Mátrai highlighted regarding the investment:
“This power plant is a strategic response to the challenges facing the domestic energy system. It is a tangible sign of an era change, in which sustainability, technology, and energy security go hand in hand, opening a new chapter for MVM Group and the domestic energy system. The new combined cycle gas turbine unit provides answers to the challenges of the coming decades in both economic and environmental terms and represents an important step in decarbonization, serving as a bridge between fossil and renewable energy. Modern, flexible, and efficient – one of the cornerstones of the future energy world. A responsible investment, a long-term solution.”
On behalf of the contractor consortium, Status KPRIA CEO Tamás Németh stated:
“This project is special, in part because we are combining the most advanced technology – a gas turbine partly suitable for green hydrogen firing, a steam turbine, and a heat recovery boiler – into one system, thus enabling us to produce electricity with significantly lower carbon dioxide emissions, greater efficiency, and flexibility compared to traditional coal-fired units. Additionally, Hungarian companies have not participated to this extent in the construction of a new power plant for nearly 40 years.”
The ceremonial cornerstone laying was also attended by Sándor Szappanos, Managing Director of MVM Mátra Gas Turbine Power Plant, Attila Paár, founding owner and Managing Director of WHB, István Százuj, Deputy CEO of Status KPRIA, and Wael Hamdy, Vice President of ELSEWEDY Electric. Although László Horváth, the Member of Parliament for the region, was unable to attend the event, the start of construction of the new power plant could not have been achieved without his support.
