Medical and Hospital News
CIVIL NUCLEAR
Czechs sign record nuclear deal but questions remain
Czechs sign record nuclear deal but questions remain
By Jan FLEMR
Prague (AFP) June 19, 2025

The Czech Republic signed a contract earlier this month with South Korea's KHNP to build two nuclear reactors, but experts question its future over complaints raised by KHNP's French rival EDF.

The deal is crucial for the EU member country of 10.9 million people, relying on nuclear power produced by the southern Dukovany and Temelin plants for 40 percent of its electricity consumption.

KHNP beat EDF in a tender last year to supply the two units for Dukovany, and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala insisted its bid was "better in all criteria assessed".

Prague expects construction to begin in 2029 and the first new reactor launched in trial operation in 2036.

But the biggest contract signed by a Czech state company since the country became independent in 1993 is currently under the scrutiny of both a Czech court and the European Commission.

EDF delayed the deal by months as it questioned the transparency of the tender in a complaint at the Czech antitrust office and later in court.

The deal was signed in great haste and online, just hours after a court rejected the EDF complaint and returned it to a lower-instance court which is due to pass its verdict on June 25.

But EDF has also contested alleged state support for KHNP, illegal in the EU, in a complaint to the European Commission.

"Chances that KHNP will not build the units in the end are still considerable, despite the signature," Petr Barton, a data economist at the Datarun analytical platform, told AFP.

"The European Commission is investigating the Korean bid. The Czech government knows about it... and yet it has signed," Barton said, labelling the Czech side's decision to sign as "most daring".

EDF declined to comment on its chances to thwart the deal.

- 'Several potential risks' -

The crucial argument for Prague was the low price offered by KHNP -- some 200 billion Czech koruna ($9 billion) per unit, but Barton said the EU is worried it was reduced by a Korean state subsidy.

"A Czech consumer would be happy to have electricity subsidised by a foreign country, but the European Union forbids this," Barton said.

"So we are in for lengthy proceedings, shame over the signature which took place after the EU's warning, and in the end the deal may not materialise at all," he added.

A day after the signature, Czech Industry and Trade Minister Lukas Vlcek told Czech Radio there were "several potential risks" to the deal.

"Let's not be naive. We have to overcome the obstacles systematically, patiently, step by step," said Vlcek, adding he was in "close contact" with the European Commission.

He added however that the EDF complaints cannot affect the contract between Prague and KHNP, which "is simply valid".

- 'A complex legal problem' -

But Jiri Gavor, who leads the Association of Independent Energy Suppliers, voiced doubts.

"From the Czech point of view, it is a done deal. But unfortunately for the Czech side or the construction itself, I don't think it will resolve all problems," Gavor told AFP.

He said the EU probe posed a much bigger threat than the Czech court dealings which will hardly overthrow the signature.

"There are legal doubts... what will happen if the European authorities decide EDF is right, and on the other hand you have a signed contract?" he added.

"I don't dare estimate the legal impact on the project. I think it will constitute a rather complex legal problem. And certainly a most unpleasant one," said Gavor.

Barton said Prague will also have to ask the EU for a go-ahead on a Czech government subsidy for the construction in a so-called notification.

The EU has already approved this, but the government then changed the financing model and has had to ask for the permit again.

"And it's not certain if they will get it, especially as the Korean bid is under scrutiny. And you can't pay for the construction without a notification and you can't expect the Koreans to build it for free," Barton said.

frj/giv

CEZ

Related Links
Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Science, Nuclear Technology
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
CIVIL NUCLEAR
Blue Sky Uranium launches major drill initiative to fast-track Ivana project in Argentina
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jun 17, 2025
Blue Sky Uranium Corp has commenced an extensive infill drill program at the Ivana Uranium-Vanadium deposit in Argentina, advancing the project toward feasibility. The initiative is being carried out through Ivana Minerales S.A. ("JVCO"), a joint venture between Blue Sky and a subsidiary of Corporacion America Group (COAM). JVCO recently increased its exploration budget to US$6 million, doubling its initial target and surpassing the US$3 million minimum annual commitment outlined in the joint-vent ... read more

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Israel to expel French nationals on Gaza aid boat by end of week

Trump deploys Marines as tensions rise over Los Angeles protests

700 Marines deployed to LA as Trump, Gov. Newsom clash over response

Defense Secretary Hegseth defends LA deployments at Capitol Hill hearing

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Breakthrough hybrid model restores orbit accuracy for BeiDou-3 satellites

SpaceX launches advanced GPS satellite for Space Force

Satellites Enhance Navigation Safety on the Mersey with Cutting-Edge Tidal Mapping

Sierra Space Reaches Key Milestone in Space Force R-GPS Program

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Light travels through entire human head in breakthrough for optical brain imaging

Human brain reveals hidden action cues AI still fails to grasp

If people stopped having babies, how long would it be before humans were all gone?

Overlooked cells might explain the human brain's huge storage capacity

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Tiny organisms, huge implications for people

Scientists track egret's 38-hour flight from Australia to PNG

Hiker dies in Greece bear encounter

Monkey business delays Sri Lanka's wildlife survey

CIVIL NUCLEAR
After quitting WHO, US urges others to 'consider joining us': Kennedy

Dengue, chikungunya may soon be endemic in Europe: research

White House site blames China for Covid-19 'lab leak'

Pentagon invites back former military fired for refusing COVID-19 vaccines

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Consciousness and collaboration in the astronomy archives of premodern China

Chinese man defies demolition orders to build madcap rural home

Millions sit China's high-stakes university entrance exam

Beijing slams Rubio 'attack' on China after Tiananmen Square remarks

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Blast kills six soldiers in Mexican cartel zone

Trump attends memecoin gala as protesters slam 'crypto corruption'

U.S. blacklists two alleged high-ranking Cartel del Noreste members

Trump hosts gala for memecoin buyers despite corruption concerns

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.