KHNP makes initial bid for nuclear power plant deal in Czech

Dukovany nuclear power site [Photo provided by KHNP]

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP), a nuclear power subsidiary of state-run Korea Electric Power Corp., has joined a three-way race to vie for a nuclear power plant deal in the Czech Republic, accelerating its global push after winning two deals in Egypt and Poland.

KHNP announced Thursday that Nam Yoh-shik, head of its growth business division, submitted an initial bid to Czech utility CEZ on Monday to build the Czech Republic’s new 1,200-megawatt unit pressurized water reactor at the country’s Dukovany nuclear power site.

Czech utility CEZ plans to name a preferred bidder and final winner by 2024 to embark on its construction in 2029 for commercial operation in 2036.

KHNP will be competing with France’s EDF and U.S. Westinghouse, which has raised an intellectual property rights suit over nuclear reactor design against KHNP and Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), in the race of the Czech Public’s nuclear power plant project.

KHNP said it is confident about winning the deal because its APR1000 reactor meets all technology requirements for the Czech Republic’s new nuclear reactor project, according to KHNP.

The Czech Republic - which currently operates six nuclear units - plans to build up to four new nuclear reactors, meaning that the Korean company could vie for three more nuclear reactor deals in the country. The country currently operates six nuclear reactors.

KHNP has to submit a supplemented bid for the current deal to the Czech Republic in September next year to remain in the race, said Hwang Joo-ho, president at KHNP.