Temelín, Dětmarovice, Tušimice: Czech Republic plans three small nuclear units

Construction of three small modular SMR reactors is being prepared in the Czech Republic. The sites are Temelín, Dětmarovice and Tušimice. The Czech Republic aims to be part of the supply chain, meaning this is not merely a Czech project but a Europe-wide one, Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlíček (ANO) told ČTK today. Together with Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO), he visited Škoda JS in Plzeň, a leading European manufacturer and supplier of equipment for nuclear power.

In May, Britain’s Rolls-Royce SMR selected Škoda JS, part of the ČEZ Group, as one of two suppliers of key SMR components – reactor pressure vessels, internal components and other primary circuit equipment. Rolls-Royce SMR, in which ČEZ has held a 20% stake since last year, will build its first three small reactors in Wales. In the Czech Republic, ČEZ and Rolls-Royce SMR plan to build modular reactors with a combined capacity of three gigawatts by 2050.

"At this point, we have three sites here – Temelín, Dětmarovice and Tušimice – and potentially other possible sites are also being sought, although even this is already quite a substantial number. Not to mention that our ambition is to be part of the supply chain. That means this is not a project solely for the Czech Republic, but at least a Europe-wide one for us," the minister said.

According to him, it is important for the Czech Republic that products from Škoda JS, for example, have the potential to account for around 10% of supplies for any small modular reactor project worldwide.

Havlíček said everything points to Rolls-Royce SMR having its first reactor in the UK in the mid-2030s. "No more than a year later, one will also be in the Czech Republic. We expect construction could begin in the early 2030s," he added. According to him, construction will be somewhat faster than for a large reactor. The full cycle – preparation, permitting and construction itself – takes 15 to 16 years for a large reactor. "For a small reactor, it is around ten years. If we are already starting today and next year we should definitively launch the final preparations, then the prospect of 2036 is genuinely likely," he said.

According to the minister, ČEZ has already begun preparing the SMR design for the Temelín site. "The Dětmarovice site should probably follow, perhaps within a very similar timeframe. This is already expenditure borne by ČEZ today. It is therefore already cooperating and is already incurring considerable costs for this," the minister said.

The capacity of one SMR unit should be between 400 and 500 MW. "So, very simply put, the capacity of one SMR is approximately comparable to that of one unit at the existing Dukovany plant," Havlíček added.

Škoda JS CEO Karel Bednář told ČTK that the Plzeň-based nuclear engineering company is seeking to build its position in the Rolls-Royce SMR supply chain. "We have signed contracts for preparing the manufacture of major long-lead components, such as the reactor vessel and internal structures. Today, we showed the prime minister and the minister how the preparations are progressing and how far along we are. We also showed that Škoda still has the capacity and people here to manufacture these components," he said.

According to Bednář, cooperation with Rolls-Royce began nearly three years ago. "We have already completed a great deal of work. And today we genuinely have contracts signed for the preparatory phase," he said. A contract for the supply of specific parts will follow the start of construction. "At present, only preparatory work has been contracted for both the Welsh and Temelín projects: site preparation and preparation of documentation for the construction permit. The supply chain for the actual construction has therefore not yet been contracted," the Škoda JS CEO said.

Bednář confirmed that Škoda JS, together with Rolls-Royce, will secure supplies for all three SMR projects in the Czech Republic. "The partnership is truly for a global supply chain. Rolls-Royce is currently talking about at least 60 units as the outlook for the entire project," he added.