Seoul: South Korea's state-run Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) will establish an on-site construction office in the Czech Republic to commence the nuclear reactor construction project for the European nation. This decision follows the recent finalization of the deal between the two sides, as announced by company officials.
According to Yonhap News Agency, KHNP is set to hold a kick-off meeting with the Czech state-controlled power company Elektrarna Dukovany II (EDU II) and open an on-site construction office at the Dukovany nuclear power plant, situated approximately 170 kilometers southeast of Prague. A South Korean consortium led by KHNP was declared the successful bidder for the US$19.1 billion project last month. However, the deal's signing was delayed due to a legal injunction issued by a Czech court following a complaint from France's EDF, a losing bidder.
KHNP electronically signed the final agreement with EDU II to construct two new nuclear power units at the Dukovany plant after the Czech Supreme Administrative Court lifted the injunction. This contract is South Korea's first overseas nuclear power plant agreement since 2009 when the country secured a deal for the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates.
KHNP President Whang Joo-ho highlighted the significance of the contract, emphasizing South Korea's technological prowess and reliability in the global nuclear power industry. He stated that KHNP would strive to enhance the domestic nuclear ecosystem's global competitiveness and ensure the project's success through close cooperation with the Czech Republic.
To expedite the project, KHNP plans to sign subcontracts with other consortium members, including KEPCO Engineering and Construction Co., KEPCO Nuclear Fuel Co., KEPCO Plant Service and Engineering Co., Doosan Enerbility Co., and Doosan Engineering and Construction Co. KEPCO subsidiaries will handle design, nuclear fuel supply, and maintenance, while Doosan entities will lead reactor construction.
South Korea will deliver two APR-1000 models, based on the APR-1400 design used in the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, modified for local requirements at Dukovany. The new reactors will be built next to the four existing 510-megawatt units at Dukovany, operational since the 1980s. The first new unit is projected to begin trial operations in 2036, followed by the second approximately two years later.
The project positions Seoul favorably for potential competition in another nuclear power plant project in the Czech Republic. The European nation is reportedly considering constructing two additional reactors at the Temelin power station, with KHNP holding exclusive negotiating rights for the next five years.