Czech Republic to join nuclear declaration, calls for nuclear energy development in Europe

The Czech Republic will join a new nuclear declaration. Its signing will be part of the nuclear energy summit to be held in Brussels on Thursday. The declaration highlights the importance of nuclear energy in meeting Europe’s climate goals and calls for open market conditions for the construction of new nuclear facilities. This was stated to the Czech News Agency (ČTK) by Ministry of Industry and Trade spokesperson Miluše Trefancová. The government will discuss joining the declaration on Wednesday.

The summit will be hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency and is expected to be attended by prime ministers and ministers from European countries and some other states. The Czech Republic is expected to be represented by Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) and Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Síkela (STAN).

The declaration will also be part of the summit, and the Czech Republic will join it. „The declaration recognizes the importance of nuclear energy’s contribution to meeting climate goals, particularly achieving carbon neutrality, and the related key role of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The signatories confirm their commitment to using nuclear energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the energy and industrial sectors, ensure energy security, strengthen energy resilience and long-term sustainable development, and support the transition to clean energy,“ Trefancová said.

The declaration will also call for the creation of an open global market for the construction and use of nuclear facilities, including medium-sized and small modular reactors.

The Czech Republic is currently preparing to build nuclear reactors. A tender was originally launched for the construction of one unit at Dukovany, with bids submitted by EDF, KHNP and Westinghouse. The bids also included non-binding options for additional reactors. After analyzing the bids, the government invited EDF and KHNP in January this year to submit binding offers for the construction of up to four new reactors at Dukovany and Temelín. The companies have until mid-April. Westinghouse is no longer participating in the competition. The contract with the selected supplier is expected to be signed at the turn of 2024 and 2025, and the first reactor is due to start operating in 2036.