Czech prime minister reaffirms trust in KHNP

Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant in Czechia. [Photo by AFP / Yonhap]

The Czech government has expressed strong confidence in Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP), a South Korean state-run nuclear power agency that it selected as the preferred bidder for the construction of new nuclear power plants in the country.

According to the Czech government on Sunday, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said during a meeting with heads of overseas missions on August 26th, 2024, local time, that the country’s state utility company CEZ “is negotiating with a reliable Korean supplier selected for the completion of our Dukovany nuclear power plant.” The “reliable Korean supplier” referred to by Fiala is KHNP.

The Czech government selected the Korean nuclear power agency as the preferred bidder for the 24 trillion won ($17.94 billion) project to build a new nuclear power plant at Dukovany on July 17th, 2024.

Fiala made the announcement himself at the time, stating, “Korea outperformed French electricity utility Électricité de France SA (EDF) in all aspects.”

Although U.S. nuclear power company Westinghouse Electric Company LLC recently filed an appeal after being eliminated midway through the bidding process, the Czech government, as well as the ordering company, CEZ, dismissed the complaint.

The Czech prime minister also plans to send his special envoy to Korea this week to discuss the comprehensive industrial cooperation plan proposed by the Korean government during the bidding process.

Meanwhile, Slovakia, which neighbors the Czech Republic, is also showing interest in partnering with Korea to build a new nuclear power plant. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is reportedly set to make an official visit to Korea at the end of September to explore a potential collaboration.

Korea’s landmark deal in the Czech Republic is seen as having a significant impact on other European countries pursuing new nuclear power projects, including Slovakia, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Slovenia.