Photo: vlada.gov.cz
On Tuesday, 19 March 2024, Prime Minister Petr Fiala attended the Future of the Czech Nuclear Industry in Central Europe conference in Brno, where he delivered a speech. The conference, which was organised by the Czech Chamber of Commerce, was held as part of the AMPER trade fair.
Madam Mayor, Mr. Deputy Mayor, Mr. Deputy Mayors, Ladies and Gentlemen, one of the main tasks of our government is to fundamentally changing the course of the Czech energy sector. We are heading towards energy sovereignty and the use of secure resources. We are making this transformation as fast as we can.
The reasons are obvious and we do not need to go into them in detail:
- We've got a Europe-wide security crisiswhich also has an energy dimension. And I think we have felt it strongly in recent years and months. And now, thanks to our independence from Russian raw materials, we are reaching a whole new level of energy security.
- In parallel, we are experiencing pressure for rapid development of low-emission energywhich is one of the objectives of European climate policy - but it is also a condition increasingly demanded by investors and trading partners. It is simply not possible to succeed today without clean energy.
- And last but not least, we need to make sure that even in turbulent times, electricity is as good as possible. stable and affordableboth for citizens and, of course, for companies.
For all these reasons, the Czech Republic is gradually reducing the share of fossil energy in its energy mix and, on the contrary, will increase the share of nuclear and renewable energy.
The core will play a major role: Nuclear reactors should produce half of all electricity in the Czech Republic around 2050. Our prosperity and competitiveness will therefore depend on nuclear energy.
This strategy meets our needs and natural conditions. It will provide us with a reliable, safe and stable supply of electricity at an affordable price.
I am glad, and it goes without saying, that today not only we in the Czech Republic are aware of the advantages of the core, but that its perception practically changes elsewhere. Pragmatic acceptance of nuclear energy and ambitious plans for its development can be found even in countries that have so far focused on other paths. And now they see that this path is the right one, such as in neighbouring Poland.
And the Czech Republic welcomes this change because it brings us wider opportunities international cooperation and, of course, all the advantages of a joint procedure.
The more countries that count on the development of the core, the easier it will be Certification new resources and preparation Legislationthat will govern these sources. And I assume that there are people in this Chamber who understand that, so you assume what the advantage will be.
Czech Republic is a member of the Nuclear alliances - a group of countries that is convincing others in Europe of the benefits of nuclear power. Its members have agreed to triple the installed capacity of nuclear power plants on their territory within the next quarter of a century.
Within the EU, the Czech Republic is focusing on two main strategies:
The first one is that Promoting fair conditions for nuclear energy.
- Our greatest achievement in this respect is the inclusion of the core in the European Taxonomy sustainable resources. This means that nuclear power plants will not be burdened by any handicaps and will be worth building. This was one of the achievements of our government during its Presidency.
- In early February, after complex negotiations, the EU Council and the European Parliament further agreed that nuclear energy can be strategic technology for decarbonisation. This is the result of a significant shift in the perception of the core in Europe - a shift that I have spoken about, but it is the result of active efforts in which the Czech Republic is involved.
The second area that is a priority for us is Negotiating development support of nuclear technology.
- The Czech Republic, together with eleven other countries, called on the European Commission to support the development of small modular reactors. This initiative has had results and is likely to lead to the creation of European Industrial Alliance for Small Modular Reactors.
- This is particularly important for us because the Czech Republic has an ambition not just to be a state that buys technology for nuclear power, but to be among the states that actively develop next-generation reactors and related technologies. We have the best conditions for this, we have a 50-year tradition and everything that goes with it.
From what has been said so far, there are four broad tasks for us: 1. securing the operation of existing units, 2. building new units, 3. readiness for next-generation reactors, and 4. strengthening our expert capacity.
Like I said, first of all, it's ensuring smooth operation of existing units until the end of their useful life.
- Together with CEZ, we have ensured that we gradually stopped using Russian nuclear fuel. This was not an easy task either. CEZ is even trying to ensure that power plants can use at least two different suppliers so that their operation is not compromised in any way.
- The fuel will be supplied in the coming years by two companies - American Westinghouse and French Framatome.
The second objective is the successful completion of the tender for new units. We still expect the first new reactor at Dukovany to be commissioned by the end of 2036.
- There are now two good offers - from French EDF and Korean KHNP. Both are not yet final and we believe that improvements will be made and that the tender will be successful.
- The non-binding offers showed that it is worthwhile to conclude contract for four blocksbecause it will bring Savings of up to 25 percent for each reactor. We have therefore asked the suppliers to confirm that they are able to make a binding offer, so that we can be sure that the price will not change when we make our decision.
- But it does not mean, and I will emphasise this again here, that we would be under pressure to build all four reactors in parallel. We can easily build the Dukovany and Temelín units decompose into two phaseswhich may be separated by several years. The important thing is that we will have a bid on the table for up to four new blocks.
The third essential task is to effectively support for the development of modular reactorswhich I have already touched on here in relation to EU policy.
- New generation reactors should make nuclear power cheaper. Their construction will be much less demanding compared to conventional reactors.
- More importantly, the Czech Republic does not want to be a mere consumer of nuclear energy in the future. We have the experience, we have the experts and we have all the prerequisites to intervene directly in the nuclear renaissance in Europe and they are among the countries that will produce the next generation of reactors themselves, participate in the production and also deliver.
- We've got what it takes to become centre of development new nuclear technologies.
- We are preparing for this - we have launched pilot project in the South Bohemia Nuclear Park, Minister Síkela is negotiating with suppliers, we're changing storage rules nuclear waste, improving investment models and working on the necessary Legislationto be among the first to deploy these technologies.
- The time horizon is more or less clear. We expect the first modular reactor to be in operation around for ten years.
The fourth point is a precondition for these visions to come to fruition, not only state institutions, but also the education system, industry and other sectors must prepare for this. My fourth point is related to this - the overall strengthening research, expert capacity and know-how.
- We reckon that we need Strengthen educational fieldsdirectly and indirectly related to nuclear energy, that there is a need to improve cooperation between schools and companies.
- We also need to provide new capacity to the State Office for Nuclear Safetyso that the licensing of new blocks is not delayed.
- I also consider all these steps in the context of the programme The Restart of the Czech Republic, which I introduced. It offers a total transformation of thinking about key projects and strategic investments in our country, and nuclear power plays a central role in this.
Ladies and gentlemen, our government has changed a not entirely conceptual and long-standing unsatisfactory approach to our energy policy and energy security. We are focusing on development of nuclear energybecause in our country. makes sense. Both from a security point of view - and this is something we must not underestimate - and from the point of view of stability or sustainability.
Core has a future with us. Core is the future both for the Czech Republic and for a very important part of Europe.
The plans I have briefly presented here are entirely realistic, based on our conditions and building on what we are good at. They respond to the world situation and give us the opportunity to turn our know-how into specific advantages.
And we - and I understand the task of our government - are working to make sure that we reap these benefits as quickly as possible. Thank you.
Petr Fiala, Prime Minister
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