Mechanical Engineer, Nuclear Energy Expert

István Lenkei completed his secondary education at the Zipernovszky Károly Mechanical
Engineering Technical High School in Pécs. He later obtained his degree in Process
Engineering from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Budapest University of
Technology and Economics, within the Institute of Thermal and Systems Engineering.

Professional Career

In September 1979, he joined the Paks Nuclear Power Plant Company, where he began his
career in the Operations Department. In 1980, he participated in two separate
two-month training and education programs at the Voronezh Nuclear Power Plant
(Soviet Union). In the same year, he also completed a one-month simulator training
program in Rheinsberg, German Democratic Republic.

During the commissioning of Unit 1 of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant (NPP Unit 1),
he worked in the Commissioning Directorate, carrying out tasks across various
technical fields. During the commissioning of Unit 2, he served as a shift engineer.

Between 1984 and 1986, he successfully completed the state examination of the
nuclear power plant specialist engineering program launched by the Budapest
University of Technology and Economics. In 1984, he was appointed shift engineer,
and in 1987 he also assumed the role of nuclear safety engineer at the plant.

In 1988, he participated in a three-week training program at Argonne National
Laboratory in the United States, focusing on nuclear power plant safety.

In 1989, as a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) ASSET team,
he took part in the investigation of events at the Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant.

Leadership and Expert Roles

From 1992 to 1995, he served as Head of the Systems Engineering Directorate, after
which he became Technical Advisor to the Director of the newly established
Mechanical Engineering Directorate.

Among other responsibilities, he led the development of Condition-Oriented
Operating Incident Management Guidelines in cooperation with the American
company Westinghouse.

In January 2000, he was appointed Head of the Mechanical Technical Department of
the newly reorganized Technical Directorate. From February 12, 2001, he served
as Technical Director of the Technical Directorate.

In this role, he considered one of his most important responsibilities to be the
long-term development of the Hungarian nuclear industry and, in particular, the
future of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant.

From February 2004, he worked as a direct advisor and chief technical expert to the
Deputy CEO for Technical Affairs. Between 2009 and 2012, he served as Director of
the newly established Capacity Expansion Directorate.

From 2012 to 2017, he worked as an advisor to the Chief Executive Officer, and from
2017 to 2022 he served for five years as Chief Executive Officer of Paks II Ltd.

In 2022, after 43 years in the nuclear energy sector, he retired.

Professional and Public Engagement

He was repeatedly a member of Hungarian expert groups cooperating with international
review missions examining the Paks Nuclear Power Plant, including OSART, ASSET,
and other missions.

Between 2012 and 2017, he served as President of the Hungarian Atomic Forum Association.

From 2000 to 2025, he was a founding member of the Energy Policy 200 Association.
He is also an active member of several professional organizations, including MNT
and MET.

Since its establishment, he has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the
Kempelen Academy of Sciences Foundation.