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Czech Republic opens tender for new nuclear reactor
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The Czech Republic launched a young on Thursday to construct a brand new reactor on the Dukovany nuclear plant because the nation goals to extend nuclear energy era.
Three firms — U.S. Westinghouse, France’s EDF and Korea’s KHNP — have handed a Czech authorities safety appraisal and are anticipated to bid for the profitable undertaking.
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The undertaking’s estimated value of round 6 billion euros ($6.6 billion) is the largest single funding within the Czech Republic, Trade and Commerce Minister Jozef Sikela mentioned.
Russian and Chinese language firms, together with Russia’s vitality big Rosatom and China’s CNG, have been excluded from the tender on safety grounds.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala mentioned Russian participation in the important thing undertaking for the nation’s vitality safety was “unimaginable” following the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.
FILE – 4 of the cooling towers of the Dukovany nuclear energy plant rise excessive above the pure environment of Dukovany, Czech Republic, Sept. 27, 2011. The Czech Republic launched a young on Thursday, March 17, 2022 to construct a brand new nuclear unit on the Dukovany plant because the nation is aiming to extend its reliance on nuclear energy. Three firms which have handed a safety evaluation by the Czech authorities are anticipated to bid for the profitable multi billion {dollars} undertaking. It’s U.S. Westinghouse, France’s EDF and Korea’s KHNP. (AP Photograph/Petr David Josek)
(AP)
The brand new reactor will complement Dukovany’s 4 510-megawatt models that had been accomplished within the late Eighties. It ought to turn out to be operational by 2036, Fiala mentioned.
“We need to make one other step for the Czech Republic to turn out to be vitality self-sufficient,” Fiala mentioned. He mentioned extra such tasks will observe however didn’t disclose particulars.
The profitable bidder is predicted to be chosen by 2024 with a development allow to be issued by 2029, Fiala mentioned.
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The Czech Republic already depends on six nuclear reactors to generate greater than a 3rd of its complete electrical energy. Moreover the 4 in Dukovany, state-controlled energy firm CEZ operates one other two 1,000-megawatt reactors on the Temelin plant. CEZ might be answerable for the tender.
CEZ chief govt Daniel Benes mentioned individuals must submit preliminary bids by the top of November after which can have one other 20 months to finish the ultimate bids. A cope with the winner might be signed in 2024.
Not like its western neighbors Austria and Germany, the Czech Republic is doubling down on nuclear energy and renewable vitality sources after deciding to part out coal as a gasoline for vitality era by 2033 with a view to cut back carbon emissions.
One other two European Union nations in Central Europe, Slovakia and Hungary, have additionally been working to increase nuclear energy manufacturing.
The Transparency Worldwide watchdog revealed an open letter to the Czech trade and commerce minister, criticizing a lack of know-how concerning the undertaking, particularly particulars about how it is going to be financed and the ultimate worth.