I think there will be synergy if Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power carries out the project for two new nuclear reactors in the Czech Republic.
A senior official in the Czech government in charge of nuclear power offered a positive outlook on the likelihood that Team Korea, including KHNP, will win the main contract for two new reactors the country is pursuing. As Team Korea has won the Dukovany nuclear plant project in the Czech Republic and is moving the work forward, expectations are growing for additional reactor orders.
KHNP signed the main contract for the Dukovany Units 5 and 6 with the Czech government in June last year and is proceeding with the schedule. The Dukovany Units 5 and 6 project is the second overseas nuclear power plant construction contract KHNP has won, 16 years after the Barakah plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Czech Republic is also pushing ahead with the construction of 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 Units 3 and 4 new-build project next year.
Tomáš Ehler, Deputy Minister for nuclear power and new technologies at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, said at a press conference on the 2026 Korea Atomic Power Annual Conference held on the 22nd at the Busan Exhibition & Convention Center (BEXCO), "To supply sufficient electricity to the Czech Republic, construction of Temelín Units 3 and 4 is necessary," adding, "As the newly formed Czech government also wants additional reactor construction, the tender for the Temelín Units 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 we watch the progress of the Dukovany project, a final decision will be made on Temelín Units 3 and 4. If KHNP is selected as the final contractor for both Dukovany and Temelín Units 3 and 4, there will be synergy."
The Deputy Minister also emphasized cooperation between KHNP and Czech corporations. The Deputy Minister said, "Successful cooperation on the Czech project can be applied not only to Temelín Units 3 and 4 but also to projects in Poland and Slovakia," adding, "We hope to create a successful cooperation story."
Petr Zavodský, president of Dukovany II Nuclear Power Plant (EDU II), the ordering entity for Dukovany Units 5 and 6 in the Czech Republic who joined the interview that day, also said, "In the case of the Czech Republic, we cannot 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 local environment and are willing to cooperate with Korean corporations, so we would be pleased to work with them."
The Czech Dukovany project is proceeding smoothly. The Deputy Minister said, "It has been 10 months since the contract was signed, 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 the conceptual design, which is an important milestone under the contract."