Preparations for Czechia's Dukovany project continue as planned, Vlček says; KHNP outlines terms to companies

Preparations for the construction of new nuclear units are continuing as planned. The commitment to gradually involve Czech companies in 60% of the project also remains in place. Industry and Trade Minister Lukáš Vlček (STAN) said this at a seminar held in Prague today by South Korean company KHNP. At the seminar, the Koreans presented the terms for taking part in the construction to representatives of nearly a hundred Czech companies.

KHNP won the Czech nuclear tender last year. The first unit at Dukovany is expected to be completed in 2036. Construction of the new nuclear units is expected to be the largest contract in Czechia. At current prices, the cost of the currently preferred plan to build two reactors at Dukovany is 407 billion crowns.

According to Vlček, the Koreans have so far met everything agreed to date. “We have clarified a roughly 30% share for Czech companies in the contract as of the signing of the EPC contract (framework agreement), and we are on track to reach around 60% by the end of construction,” the minister said.

He recalled that last week he held talks in Seoul with the new South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-sok. “The prime minister clearly dispelled all the doubts that had appeared in the Czech media. The Dukovany project has the full support of the incoming Korean government,” Vlček stressed.

KHNP representatives also declared today that they intend to meet the target for Czech companies’ share in the project. “Creating a sustainable supply chain in the Czech Republic is essential not only for this joint development, but also for the overall success of the project,” said the Korean company’s CEO, Joo Ho-wang.

In this connection, the company today presented representatives of Czech companies with the criteria and requirements for registering as qualified suppliers. These included information on qualification requirements, the procurement schedule and technical expectations. The event also included bilateral meetings between the Koreans and individual companies. Further events of this kind are expected to take place in the coming months.

KHNP signed an agreement with Elektrárna Dukovany II for construction of the units this June. The framework agreement covers two contracts. The first is for construction of two nuclear units at Dukovany, while the second is for the supply of nuclear fuel.

The contract for construction of the Dukovany units also includes an agreed option to build two more units at Temelín. The contract was recently published in the Contracts Register. Much of it is classified. Those passages have been redacted from the public version, including information on the price, schedule and penalties for failing to meet the agreed terms.