EdF, Westinghouse, KHNP submit bids for Czech nuclear

French utility EdF, US firm Westinghouse and nuclear developer Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) have submitted separate bids to build a new nuclear unit, up to 1.2GW in capacity, at the Czech Dukovany nuclear plant as well as proposals to develop an additional three units in the country.

KNHP submitted its bid for the installation of an APR1000 reactor type, with a capacity of 1.1GW, while EdF proposed to build a 1.2GW EPR1200 reactor and Westinghouse offered to install its 1.1GW AP1000 reactor. KHNP has proposed to start building its unit in 2029, while both Westinghouse and EdF did not provide a timeline on when the installation of their reactors would potentially begin.

Czech utility Cez, operator of both the Dukovany and Temelin nuclear plants, will continue to accept offers for the installation of the planned Dukovany unit 5 until the end of September 2023, with contracts finalised in 2024. The unit is expected to begin trial operations in 2036.

The companies also all presented proposals for the development of an additional unit 6 at the Dukovany plant and two other new nuclear units at the 2GW Temelin nuclear station.

EdF told Argus today that it also plans to install its EPR1200 reactors under its proposal for the installation of the sixth unit at the Dukovany nuclear plant and the other two units at the Temelin plant.

Nuclear generation in the Czech Republic has accounted for around 37pc of its generation mix so far this year, with around 3.28GW produced from January-November.

EdF announced the opening of its Nuclear Czechia office in Prague in June, with a focus on strengthening its bid for the Dukovany nuclear project, following the opening of the tender to build the fifth nuclear unit at the plant in March.

By Makani Joinville

Average Czech nuclear generation GW