The Czech government, which is currently finalising conditions for the upcoming tender to build a new 1,200 MW unit at the Dukovany nuclear power plant, has reached a consensus with all political parties to exclude Chinese companies (China General Nuclear Power (CGNPC)) from the tender to due to security concerns. However, they have not decided yet whether to allow Russian companies (Rosatom) to take part in the tender.
In July 2020, the Czech government signed agreements with the Czech state-owned power utility ČEZ for the development of a new 1,200 MW reactor at Dukovany. The agreement encompassed the overall general framework of the €6bn project and its initial phase and called for a tender to select a construction company. ČEZ would have a preferred list of suppliers (by 2022) and would sign a contract with one supplier by 2024. Construction would start in 2029, and commissioning would be expected in 2036. The project will benefit from an interest-free loan and power from the new nuclear reactor would be sold at a fixed tariff. Consumers would make up the gap if that price is higher than wholesale market prices. The government will have to seek approval for the European Commission to ensure its nuclear program meets EU state aid rules.
ČEZ already operates four VVER-440 reactors at the Dukovany nuclear power plant (2,040 MW) and two VVER-1000 reactors at the Temelín plant (2,160 MW). Replacing the older reactors with new units is viewed as crucial for the country’s energy security, as the four Dukovany reactors are expected to be shut down permanently between 2035 and 2037.
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