Dispute over Dukovany: EU stops Czech nuclear power project!

Dispute over Dukovany: EU stops Czech nuclear power project!

The Czech government plans to sign an agreement with the South Korean company KHNP (Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power) to build new nuclear reactors at the Dukovany nuclear power plant. However, this initiative faces significant legal and political challenges. As oekonews.at reports, the Czech Antimonopoly Office has taken a temporary measure that stops the progress of the nuclear procurement process. The move follows formal complaints from unsuccessful bidders, including France's EDF and US-based Westinghouse, alleging a lack of transparency and fairness in the tender process.

The Czech government sees the expansion of nuclear power as a national matter and is convinced that this step is necessary to reduce electricity consumption by 2050. Prime Minister Petr Fiala has announced that up to four new units will be built instead of just one reactor. This could bring economic advantages, as construction would be up to 25 percent cheaper, according to Fiala. Building a single reactor is currently estimated to cost €6.5 billion, but experts warn the total cost could rise to as much as €20 billion, raising concerns about financing.

Legal hurdles and European requirements

Talks between the Czech state-owned company ČEZ and KHNP continue, but the contract cannot be signed until the complaints are resolved. The Antimonopoly Office's interim measure ensures that KHNP's selection can be challenged, while EDF and Westinghouse ask for a review of the award decision by the European Commission. Manfred Doppler, a leading project representative, emphasizes that without public funding the entire project would not be financeable. At the same time, Gerold Wagner, a member of the anti-nuclear committee, says that the allegations of illegal funding urgently need to be clarified.

European constraints play an essential role: the Czech government has been advised to postpone the agreement with KHNP because it raises concerns about illicit subsidies. According to information from euractiv.com, the antimonopoly office sees the interim measure as a non-final decision, which further prolongs the progress of the project and raises doubts about the fairness of the tender process.

Public opinion and future outlook

Despite the challenges, public support for nuclear power in the Czech Republic is high, at almost 80 percent, which is also supported by the opposition. The Czech Republic expects electricity consumption to increase by up to two-thirds by 2050, which will further increase the push for the expansion of nuclear power. The Czech Minister of Industry and Trade, Lukáš Vlček, describes the current situation as a “certain complication”, but does not see any insurmountable obstacle to the progress of the tender. Final decisions are expected in the near future as the contract was originally scheduled to be signed by March 31, 2025.

The discussion about the new generation of reactors in Dukovany clearly shows how complex and multi-layered the decisions regarding the future energy supply in the Czech Republic are. However, critics warn against unrealistic planning in the midst of a chaotic situation. Time will tell whether the Czech government's ambitious plan can be successfully implemented or whether it will continue to meet with resistance.