EDF: Czech firms' involvement in building reactors in Europe could bring the country CZK 1 trillion

Involvement of Czech companies in French company EDF's supply chain could bring the Czech economy up to 40 billion euros (one trillion crowns) as more than two dozen nuclear reactors are expected to be built in Europe over the next 25 years, EDF Vice President Vakis Ramany told the Czech News Agency (ČTK) in an interview. He said the French company was interested in close cooperation with Czech industry because the expected nuclear renaissance in Europe would require additional capacity with sufficient know-how, and Czechia is among the countries that have it. EDF is one of two bidders for the construction of new nuclear reactors in Czechia, competing with South Korea's KHNP.

According to Ramany, European countries are considering building up to 49 new nuclear reactors by 2050. He estimates that between 25 and 30 could use EDF's EPR technology. „If we assume that these 25 to 30 reactors are built, the involvement of Czech industry in our European supply chain would bring an economic benefit to the Czech Republic that we estimate at around 40 billion euros,“ he said.

EDF has pledged to involve Czech companies in its supply chain as part of the current tender to build up to four new nuclear units in Czechia, and expects them to account for around 65 percent of the contract. But according to Ramany, EDF also sees potential for Czech industry in its other nuclear projects outside Czechia. „We want to convince the Czech government that this is a good choice for the Czech Republic, but also for the future of the nuclear industry in Europe, where Czech industry can play a huge role,“ Ramany said. EDF will need to expand its supply chain, he said, and he has no doubt that Czech companies would be an asset.

French Ambassador to Czechia Stéphane Crouzat told ČTK that the French government, as EDF's sole owner, fully supports the company's efforts and sees them as an opportunity to strengthen the shared interests of Czechia and France in nuclear energy in Europe. He stressed that the government's position would not be affected by Sunday's parliamentary election results, since there is broad political consensus in France on supporting nuclear energy. The far-right National Rally (RN), led by Marine Le Pen, won Sunday's first round of voting, followed by the left-wing New Popular Front, while President Emmanuel Macron's centrist camp came third. The second round of voting will take place on 7 July.

Energy company ČEZ received bids from EDF and KHNP to build new nuclear reactors at the end of April and, after evaluating them, submitted them to the government in mid-June. The cabinet is expected to select the winner of the tender in July and will also decide how many units will be built. One new nuclear unit is due to be completed at Dukovany by 2036; if the project is expanded, up to two units could be built at Dukovany and two at Temelín.

The new reactor project is expected to be the largest investment in Czechia's modern history. According to previous statements by the government and ČEZ, one new reactor is to cost around 160 billion crowns in 2020 prices. Government and ČEZ representatives have so far declined to comment on the prices offered. Some economists estimated in January that building four reactors could cost up to two trillion crowns.