May 7, 2025
DUKOVANY – A Czech court has blocked Elektrarna Dukovany II, a subsidiary of the country’s main power company, from signing an $18 billion nuclear plant contract with South Korea’s Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, following a preliminary injunction filed by French energy firm EDF, which lost in the bidding process.
The contract signing ceremony between Elektrarna Dukovany II and KHNP, scheduled for Wednesday, has been effectively suspended due to the court’s decision. Elektrarna Dukovany II is a subsidiary of CEZ.
EDF filed a complaint last week against the Czech competition authority, the Office for the Protection of Competition, after it dismissed EDF’s objections regarding the tender process to select a supplier for two nuclear reactors at the Dukovany site.
“The essential thing is that if the contract were to be concluded, the French bidder would irretrievably lose the opportunity to obtain the public contract, even if the court ruled in its favor in the lawsuit,” the Brno Regional Court said in a statement.
KHNP said it is currently in talks with its Czech counterparts regarding the matter.
Over the court’s ruling, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said the bidding process has been carried out “properly,” with the country’s best interests in mind.
“We acknowledge the decision of the independent court. We are convinced that the process of evaluating the bids was conducted properly and in accordance with applicable laws,” Fiala said in a post on X.
“The key factors in selecting the supplier were ensuring an adequate supply of affordable electricity for citizens and businesses, as well as the best guarantees. I trust that the court is aware of all the related circumstances and risks and will make a swift decision.”
Last year, Czech energy company CEZ selected KHNP to build two 1,055-megawatt APR-1000 reactors to expand the Dukovany nuclear power plant. Under the plan, the first of the new reactors was scheduled to begin operation in 2036.
KHNP is leading the Korean consortium, which includes affiliates of the state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. and private firms such as Doosan Enerbility and Daewoo Engineering & Construction.