Prague: South Korea's industry minister has reaffirmed Seoul's support for the completion of a South Korea-led nuclear power plant construction project in the Czech Republic. This commitment was expressed as he congratulated the new prime minister of the European country, the industry ministry announced on Wednesday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Jung-kwan, the minister of trade, industry, and resources, conveyed this assurance to Andrej Babis, the newly appointed prime minister of the Czech Republic. The meeting took place in Prague on Monday, where Kim promised utmost support for the successful construction of the Dukovany power plant. He also delivered a hand-written letter from President Lee Jae Myung, emphasizing South Korea's dedication to the project.
During his visit, Kim also met with his Czech counterpart, Karel Havlicek. The two ministers agreed to establish a minister-level consultation body to facilitate the completion of the nuclear power plant project. This initiative aims to ensure seamless collaboration and address any challenges that may arise during the construction process.
The project involves a South Korean consortium led by Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) and the Czech government. The two parties finalized the estimated $18 billion deal in June. Furthermore, the former administration of the Czech Republic had initially agreed to negotiate with South Korea for a follow-up project to build two additional nuclear reactors in Temelin.