Czech, S. Korean firms sign deal to build nuclear units

5/6/2025 6:18

A Czech firm on Wednesday signed the final contract with a South Korean company for the construction of two new nuclear units at the Dukovany power plant, according to the Czech government.

Elektrarna Dukovany II and South Korea's Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) signed the deal hours after the Supreme Administrative Court annulled the preliminary injunction issued by a regional Czech court that blocked its signing.

The signing of the final contract was originally scheduled for May 7, but was postponed due to the court injunction. The injunction was issued on May 6 following a legal complaint by the French company EDF, which had participated in the tender but lost.

"The signing of the contract opened the way to ensuring the self-sufficiency and energy security of the Czech Republic," the government said in a statement.

"The implementation of the project will support the long-term competitiveness of the Czech industry... At the same time, we have agreed with the Korean side on a common goal of a high share of Czech suppliers, which should reach up to 60 percent," it added.

According to the government, the construction of new units, with a cost of an estimated 400 billion Czech crowns (about 18 billion U.S. dollars), will begin in 2029 and the first unit should enter test operation in 2036.