The completion of the Dukovany nuclear power plant will significantly affect life in the region. In the long term, it will bring major benefits, above all it will ensure the energy security of the whole country. In the short term, on the other hand, there is a risk of negative impacts on the population, which must be eliminated as far as possible. This is stated in the study on the socio-economic impact of the completion of Dukovany, which was discussed by the government at its meeting on Wednesday 15 January 2025.
The government discussed conclusions of the socio-economic study Dukovany 2024, which was independently prepared by the Ministry for Regional Development in cooperation with the regions concerned, to map in detail the impacts of the construction of two new units of the Dukovany nuclear power plant on the area affected by the construction.
According to Prime Minister Petr Fiala, the completion of the Dukovany nuclear power plant is one of the great tasks facing the Czech Republic. "It is a crucial thing for our energy self-sufficiency, security, and for us to have enough energy at affordable prices. And it's also a construction that hasn't been done here in decades," reminded the Prime Minister.
In addition to strengthening the energy security of the Czech Republic, the completion of Dukovany will also be a great opportunity for further development of the entire region. "It will have a lot of very positive impacts on the Czech Republic, on the regions concerned, but it will also have some risks and impacts that could be negative. And we are trying to avoid those. That is why we have also promised the Vysočina Region, the South Moravian Region and the affected municipalities that we will limit as much as possible the possible negative impacts of the construction on the inhabitants of these municipalities and regions from the very beginning." stated Prime Minister Fiala.
The socio-economic impact study names these risks and also points to the very positive impact of the Dukovany completion on the future of the whole region. "The positive impact is quantified, for example, in terms of supporting the local economy. This could multiply up to CZK 230-250 billion over the entire construction period. Positive impacts on municipal tax revenues are expected to amount to CZK 1.5 billion. About a thousand new economic entities are expected to be created in areas such as construction, hospitality, accommodation, transport, retail, etc.," said the Prime Minister.
Among the anticipated negative phenomena are, for example, the expected increase in car traffic, which will have to be corrected by the development of bus transport. "It is also necessary to modernise the road network around Dukovany. The government has already responded to this and fourteen billion crowns have been earmarked for the construction of the necessary bypasses, relocations and reconstructions until 2029." Prime Minister Fiala pointed out. The region is also expected to receive nearly 10 000 new inhabitants, most of them from other parts of the Czech Republic, so it is necessary to focus on building the necessary accommodation and other necessary infrastructure. The Ministry of Regional Development will submit an action plan to address the spatial impacts to the construction by 30 June.
The government also approved designation of the new protected landscape area Soutok. From 1 July 2025 it will become the area of floodplain forests at the confluence of the Dyje and Morava rivers, where the largest complex of floodplain forests in Central Europe is located, inhabited by hundreds of species of plants and rare animals. The area is already part of the Natura 2000 system, and its designation as a protected landscape area will increase its level of protection even further; it will be area-wide with a division into individual zones of protection. Details include press release of the Ministry of the Environment.
The government also praised Establishment of the Interministerial Council for Genetics and Genomics. The Council, whose purpose will be to coordinate and support research and development in key scientific disciplines in areas that have a major impact on the health of the population and the sustainability of agricultural production, will be established later this year by the Ministries of Health and Agriculture. The Council will include two working groups - one on medical genetics, genomics and bioethics, and the other on crop genetics and genomics. More in press release of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Cabinet also took note of the election of Prof. Radomír Pánek, Ph.D., the new President of the Czech Academy of Sciences. He should replace Eva Zažímalová, whose second four-year mandate has expired, as of 25 March. The government has now submitted a proposal for the appointment of a new President of the CAS to the President of the Republic Petr Pavel.
At the end of the press conference, the cabinet members presented the agreement concluded by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports on the financing of non-teaching work. The financing of non-teaching staff in education, such as cooks, janitors and cleaners, will now be transferred to the school founders. The state will compensate local governments and other founders for these new expenditures by increasing the revenues of municipalities and regions by CZK 11 billion in 2025 and CZK 32.4 billion in 2026. press release of the Ministry of Finance or in press release of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.
Government of the Czech Republic/ gnews - RoZ
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