Permitting for new nuclear units in Czechia is likely to speed up

Permitting processes for the construction of new nuclear units and small modular reactors in Czechia are likely to speed up. This is envisaged by a draft Atomic Act approved by the government today. The legislation will help accelerate the construction of small modular reactors in particular while maintaining safety standards, Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) said at a press conference after a cabinet meeting. The bill still has to be considered by Parliament.

„The act will speed up the construction and deployment of small modular reactors by shortening and simplifying the permitting process for new sources, responding more flexibly to technological developments, including by making it easier to introduce new technologies,“ Fiala said.

„Everything is geared towards making permitting processes easier and faster while maintaining safety standards,“ he added. He said that without the legislation, it would be difficult to bring new nuclear units online by 2036.

Under the state's current plans, nuclear energy, together with renewables, is expected to be the main source in the domestic energy mix. The state is therefore preparing to build new reactors as well as small modular units.

According to the document, the amendments should primarily reduce the regulatory burden involved in reviewing construction projects within the state administration. They mainly involve technical changes. The legislation also needs to be adapted to new technologies such as modular reactors, which were not covered by the existing act. According to the document, the amendments were also necessary to reflect new international standards in nuclear energy.

According to the State Office for Nuclear Safety, the amendment is essential because retaining the existing Atomic Act could delay or even prevent the deployment of new nuclear technologies. „This could jeopardise the Czech Republic's energy security and prevent it from achieving its climate targets,“ the office said in a report to the government.

The state is currently holding a tender to build new nuclear units. The semi-state-owned company ČEZ, which is managing the tender, received bids last week for the construction of up to four reactors from France's EDF and South Korea's KHNP. ČEZ is now analysing the bids and will submit them to the government in June. The government will then select the winner over the summer and is also expected to decide how many units should be built in the Czech Republic in the future. The state currently expects the first of them to come online at Dukovany in 2036.

The first small modular reactor is also expected to begin operating in Czechia before then. ČEZ plans to build it at Temelín. The company is also planning additional modular reactors at other sites; they are among the options being considered to replace coal-fired power plants.