French EDF asks European Commission to investigate nuclear tenders in the EU, including Czechia

French energy company EDF is asking the European Commission (EC) to investigate nuclear tenders in the European Union. The company said so in a letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Euractiv reported the news, citing the Contexte website. EDF was one of the bidders for the completion of the Czech Dukovany power plant.

The company wants the Commission to examine the conditions of nuclear tenders in Europe. It stresses the importance of fair competition between European and non-European companies in EU nuclear tenders. Although EDF does not mention Dukovany directly in the letter, the context suggests that the request also concerns this contract, Euractiv reported. Euractiv has also seen the letter.

EDF is calling on the EC to tighten scrutiny of the financing of companies bidding for nuclear contracts in the EU. All tender participants should be required to fully disclose any subsidies they have received from governments outside the EU. According to the French company, the Commission should, where necessary, enforce remedial measures to prevent market distortions and ensure that tenders are conducted under fair rules.

The Czech government awarded the project to KHNP in March 2023. The South Korean company beat EDF and US company Westinghouse in the tender. The French company subsequently filed a complaint with the Czech antitrust authority and later also approached the Commission. Westinghouse withdrew its comments on the tender from the Czech authority at the end of February.

The contracts are due to be ready for signing at the end of this March, but EDF’s complaint is currently holding them up. The government plans to build two new reactors at Dukovany, at a cost of 400 billion crowns at current prices.