The four blocks of Hungary's first and so far single NPP started operation between 1982 and 1987. The NPP's nominal output exceeds 1860 MW. In order to improve the power plant's efficiency, the general meeting of the Paks NPP established the Performance Boosting project, with an aim to increase a reactors' performance to 108% and thus to reach at least 500 MW electric performance of the blocks. In 2007 the performance of blocks 1 and 4 was accomplished. In 2008 block 2 also reached 108%, while block 3 reached 104%. There are plan to increase all blocks' performance to 108% by 2009.

The NPP of Paks plays an important role in Hungary's electric energy production and gives approximately 40% of it. In 2008 the power station reached the highest production performance of its history with 14818.5 GWh energy. Hungary's cheapest energy is generated by the Paks NPP.

Compared to other power stations, the nuclear power plant is the least polluting one, it does not emit carbon-dioxide, and thus saves the oxygen need for 2 million people a year. This is exactly the same as Hungarian forests' one-year oxygen production. This makes the Paks NPP an indispensable facility for Hungary in terms of energy, environment protection and economy.

The Paks NPP's safety is in every respect as safe as any nuclear power plant of the same age in the European Union. This was the finding of a detailed examination check by WENRA (Western European Nuclear Regulators' Association).

Being aware of the responsibility of the country's energy supply, the Paks NPP's management made a decision to extend the block's operating time by 20 years, until 2032-2037, amidst preserving the high standards of nuclear safety. On 21 November 2005, 96.6% Hungary's Parliament voted for extending the lifetime.

They made an informed decision in terms of safety, environment protection, engineering and economy. The power plant's experts started to obtain from authorities the licences required by law, and also made preparations to extend the lifetime. The Southern Transdanubia Environment, Nature Protection and Water management authority issued permit in its resolution of 2 November 2006 for the Paks NPP to operate the blocks for additional 20 years, instead of the originally planned 30-year lifetime. By mid-2008 the lifetime extension programme was prepared and submitted in November 2008. The NPP does not use any state subsidy or central financial resources to implement this programme.

The power plant's objective is to make the majority of Hungarians support the above plans. Opinion polls prove that the population's confidence is as firm as it was in the previous years: three in four Hungarians (73%) agree with Hungary operating a NPP.