Dukovany nuclear power plant: Experts warn of the fiasco of 2025

Dukovany nuclear power plant: Experts warn of the fiasco of 2025

Dukovany, Tschechische Republik - The tender for the construction of new reactors in the Czech nuclear power plant Dukovany is criticized. Prof. Radek Škoda, a renowned nuclear expert at the TU Liberec, described the procedure as the "Fiasko of 2025", as the Czech newspaper Fintag reports. ŠKODA emphasizes defects in planning, communication and decision making that heavily burden the project.

Special concerns ŠKODA comments on the selection of the South Korean company Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHHNP), which was awarded the contract for the construction of a new KKW system. Despite the Czech government's claim to award 60 percent of the orders to domestic companies, Škoda assumes that this will only be 20 to 30 percent in reality. He also criticizes the influence of international conflicts of interest, especially that of the United States, on the tender.

progress in the project and legal hurdles

viewed in a different light, the subsidiary Elektrárny Dukovany II has already signed a contract with KHNP for the construction of up to four new nuclear power plants. In July 2024, KHNP was selected as the preferred bidder for the construction at the Dukovany and Temelín locations, whereby the total cost of the project is estimated at around 200 billion CZK (around $ 9 billion) per unit. The first reactor is to be put into operation by 2036.

However, the tender was stopped by legal difficulties. Both Westinghouse (USA) and EDF (France) have lodged a complaint against the award of the order. While Westinghouse withdrew his complaint, EDFS was rejected in April. Nevertheless, EDF filed a lawsuit at the regional court in Brno. The court decided that ČEZ cannot sign the contract with KHNP until the lawsuit was treated. Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Fiala nevertheless approved the basic signing of the contract, which increases the pressure on the government to advance the project.

energy policy challenges

the Czech Republic plans to expect a rapidly increasing power consumption by 2050, which is why the expansion of nuclear power is considered important. The consent to nuclear power is almost 80 percent of the population, and party political limits also overcome this debate. Nevertheless, in view of the enormous costs of the project, there are concerns about financing and future public debt.

Afterwards, 12 contracts between the Czech and Korean companies have already been concluded, including a framework agreement on the delivery of a steam turbine and further cooperation in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy. Nevertheless, the critical assessment of experts like Prof. Škoda remains that the realizable progress and the most prudent planning are crucial for whether the Czech Republic can actually achieve its ambitious energy goals.