An amendment could speed up permitting for new nuclear facilities in Czechia

An amendment to the Atomic Act, which comes into force on Tuesday, 1 July, is intended to simplify and speed up the permitting of new nuclear reactors in Czechia. The faster processes are also expected to apply to small modular reactors. Under the state’s current plans, nuclear energy, together with renewables, is to be a mainstay of the Czech energy mix. The state is therefore preparing to build new reactors as well as small modular units.

The State Office for Nuclear Safety (SÚJB) says the amendment reflects current developments in nuclear energy and introduces requirements stemming from European regulations. “The changes are intended not only to make regulation more efficient, but also to strengthen safety standards for the construction and operation of nuclear facilities and for the handling of nuclear materials and sources of ionising radiation,” the office said.

One of the new mechanisms introduced by the amendment is the option to request preliminary information from SÚJB. The purpose is to seek an explanation or consultation on how the office would decide a particular matter. The government says this is needed because the rapid emergence of new technologies brings a range of technical and technological uncertainties. It is therefore necessary to be able to clarify, before the relevant proceedings begin, whether the information, supporting documents, technologies and equipment will meet the requirements. The office will then say whether it will require additional conditions, for example, or what criteria it will use to assess the application.

Another new feature is the possibility for SÚJB to approve an exemption from the requirements of the law. The law already allows certain exemptions, including a change to the category of a workplace or a source of ionising radiation. An application to the office will have to state the relevant reasons and demonstrate that the conditions set out in the law have been met.

New nuclear units are planned for Dukovany, where they are to be built by South Korea’s KHNP. The first unit at Dukovany is expected to be completed in 2036. The construction of new nuclear units in Czechia is expected to be the country’s largest-ever contract. At current prices, the cost of the currently preferred plan to build two reactors at Dukovany is 407 billion crowns.

Power company ČEZ plans to operate small modular reactors, for example at Tušimice near Chomutov, where up to six could be built. They will replace electricity generation at the Tušimice II lignite power plant. The first unit is expected to start operating in 2038. A small modular reactor is also due to be built at Temelín by 2034.