"If Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power carries out even the two new reactor projects in the Czech Republic, I think there will be synergy."
A senior official in the Czech government in charge of nuclear power offered an upbeat outlook on the chances of a main contract for "Team Korea," including KHNP, regarding the construction of two new reactors the Czech Republic is pursuing. As Team Korea has won the Dukovany nuclear power project in the Czech Republic and is carrying it out, expectations are rising for additional reactor orders.
KHNP signed the main contract for Dukovany Units 5 and 6 with the Czech government in June last year and is proceeding with the work. The Dukovany 5 and 6 project is the second overseas nuclear construction contract KHNP has won, 16 years after the Barakah nuclear plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Czech Republic is also pushing to build Temelín Units 3 and 4, and KHNP has been selected as the preferred bidder. The Czech Republic will select the final contractor for the Temelín 3 and 4 new-build project next year.
Tomas Ehler, Deputy Minister for Nuclear Energy and New Technologies at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, said at a press conference on the sidelines of the "2026 Korea Atomic Energy Annual Conference" held at the Busan Exhibition & Convention Center (BEXCO) on the 22nd, "To supply sufficient power to the Czech Republic, it is necessary to build Temelín Units 3 and 4," adding, "As the newly formed Czech government also wants additional reactor construction, the tender for the Temelín 3 and 4 project will likely be decided around next year."
The Deputy Minister added, "We have already received a competitive proposal from KHNP," and said, "After watching the progress of the Dukovany project, a final decision will be made on Temelín Units 3 and 4, and if KHNP is selected as the final contractor for both Dukovany and Temelín 3 and 4, there will be synergy."
The Deputy Minister also stressed cooperation between KHNP and Czech corporations. The Deputy Minister said, "Successful cooperation in the Czech project can be demonstrated not only in Temelín 3 and 4 but also in projects in Poland and Slovakia," adding, "We hope to create a successful cooperation story."
Petr Závodský, president of Dukovany II Nuclear Power Plant (EDU II), the client for Dukovany Units 5 and 6 in the Czech Republic, who joined the interview, also said, "In the case of the Czech Republic, it is not possible to build a nuclear power plant without cooperating with Korean corporations, and Korean corporations likewise will not be able to carry out the Dukovany project without cooperating with Czech corporations," adding, "Czech corporations know the domestic environment and are willing to cooperate with Korean corporations, so if we work with Korean corporations, we would be pleased."
The Czech Dukovany project is proceeding smoothly. The Deputy Minister said, "It has been 10 months since we signed the contract, and KHNP is proceeding according to schedule, including completing the site survey," adding, "We recently received from KHNP the first large-scale design documents corresponding to conceptual design, which is an important milestone under the contract."