Karel Havlíček, the Czech shadow minister for industry and trade from the ANO party, described the postponement of the completion of the Dukovany nuclear power plant as an "international embarrassment." Legal disputes could significantly complicate the completion process.

The completion of the Dukovany nuclear power plant is facing further complications, which have provoked strong reactions from the opposition. The signing of a key contract with the South Korean company KHNP, scheduled for May 7, 2025, was blocked the day before by the Regional Court in Brno with a preliminary injunction. This was issued based on a lawsuit filed by the French company EDF, which was unsuccessful in the tender for the completion of Dukovany and challenged its process. The situation has sparked a wave of criticism and concerns about potential financial losses and the international perception of the Czech Republic.

According to Havlíček, the government of Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) failed to adequately prepare the tender process and ignored warnings from the opposition that legal disputes could complicate the process. The postponement could therefore lead to further increases in energy prices, which would burden citizens and businesses.

The court's intervention came at a time when a South Korean delegation was in Prague, ready to formally confirm cooperation on the construction of two new units at Dukovany. South Korean media, such as the ekn.kr website, described the situation as an "international embarrassment," and calls for the resignation of the leadership of KHNP even emerged in South Korea. The CEO of ČEZ, Daniel Beneš, warned that the postponement could cause damages amounting to hundreds of millions of crowns, due to delays in the schedule and the potential for increased project costs.

The Elektrárna Dukovany II (EDU II) company, which is overseeing the tender process, plans to file an appeal against the court's decision with the Supreme Administrative Court. The head of EDU II, Petr Závodský, stated that the company will defend the interests of Czech citizens and shareholders, as the court, in his opinion, did not adequately consider the public interest in ensuring a sufficient supply of electricity. While EDF maintains that the tender was unfair, the Czech side defends the selection of KHNP as the best offer in terms of price, speed, and the involvement of Czech companies.

The completion of Dukovany remains a key project for the energy future of the Czech Republic, but the uncertainty surrounding the signing of the contract threatens the timeline and budget. The first new unit was originally scheduled to be completed in 2036, but the current obstacles could further delay the deadline and the overall costs, estimated at 407 billion crowns.

Source: PS PCR/gnews.cz - cik