The Czech‑Korean ministerial steering committee for the new blocks of the Dukovany nuclear power plant began its work under the Supply Chain and Energy Dialogue. The committee includes the industry ministers of both countries together with representatives of the supplier KHNP and the investor, Elektrárna Dukovany II. “We pushed through the Dukovany project under our previous government and at the same time approved the timetable. We are still keeping to it and consider it essential to continue to adhere to it, as well as to the budget. That is why Minister Kim and I established the ministerial steering committee, and we will continuously monitor the progress of preparations and construction,” said First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček. “Equally important is the strong involvement of Czech companies, which is in the interests not only of the Czech but, as our partners assure us, also of the Korean side. I therefore welcome the conclusion of direct contracts for the turbine and for support in permitting and licensing. I will continue to insist that Czech companies have a level playing field and the highest possible share in the project and related investments that will bring jobs and further opportunities for domestic business,” he added. On top of that, Minister Jung‑Kwan KIM stated: “The Republic of Korea regards the Dukovany project as a strategic partnership with the Czech Republic. We want to ensure effective cooperation between our governments and industry and a smooth implementation of the project.”

Visit of Minister Jung-Kwan KIM to Prague
​Photo: Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic

At the same time, contracts were concluded that mean the involvement of Czech companies in the project’s supply chain – under the contract signed between KHNP and ÚJV Řež, ENERGOPROJEKT from the ÚJV Group will support permitting and licensing processes, and Doosan Enerbility concluded a contract with Plzeň‑based Doosan Škoda Power for the supply of the turbine. “The fact that a contract for the supply of the turbine, which is the heart of the plant, was signed today is not only excellent news, but also proof that the project is proceeding according to plan. This applies not only to the area of preparations for the construction of new nuclear sources, but also to the involvement of Czech companies in this project,” said Insik PARK, Executive Vice President of KHNP for Overseas Projects. “As of today, we have nearly 160 companies in the registration process to become suppliers for the construction of Dukovany 5 and 6,” he added.

Ministers Havlíček and Kim also addressed broader Czech‑Korean economic relations, including cooperation in the areas of investment, trade and technology centres, preparations for the next round of the Supply Chain and Energy Dialogue, opportunities for cooperation in third‑country markets, and a discussion of new sources at the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant. They also opened the question of mutual participation in major events in both regions – a Czech exhibition at the Korean energy fair INEX in Busan or possible Korean participation in the International Engineering Fair in Brno.

Jakub Kopecký, Economic Diplomat, Embassy of the Czech Republic