Czech government official: “The construction of a new nuclear power plant will be carried out with Czech government funds.”

by times news cr
Panoramic view of Dukovany, the planned site for a new nuclear power plant in the Czech Republic. (Provided by Korea⁣ Hydro & Nuclear Power)

A Czech goverment official visiting‌ Korea announced that the construction of a new ‍nuclear power plant in the Czech Republic will‍ be carried out wiht Czech government funds.

After the Czech government selected korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) as ​the ⁣preferred‌ negotiating party for the additional construction of the Dukovany nuclear power⁤ plant, suspicions were raised in domestic political circles that the government had promised financial support, which ​the Czech side effectively denied.

Thomas Eller, Acting Director of Nuclear New technology at the czech Ministry of ⁢Industry, who visited ⁢Korea ⁢to attend the ‘Korea-Czech Republic‌ Future Forum’ held in Seoul‌ on ⁤the 28th, said in a media interview, “The financial model for ⁣czech Republic’s Dukovany Unit 6 is expected to be finalized by the end of this year. ⁢“It is indeed expected that the Czech​ government will provide a state loan,” he said.

In July of this year, the Czech government selected Korea Hydro &‌ Nuclear Power Corporation as the ‌preferred negotiating partner for the construction project ‍of two new nuclear power plants ‍(Dukovany Units 5 and ‍6) worth 24 trillion won.Among these, ⁣Unit 5 has been confirmed to be built ⁢with ⁤the Czech government’s budget, ⁢and it has been announced that‍ unit 6 ⁤will also be built with funds from the Czech government.

After⁤ winning the Czech nuclear power plant order, ‍suspicions were ⁢raised in Korea, led by⁢ the⁣ Democratic Party of Korea, that the Korean government was taking orders ⁤at low⁢ prices by​ promising low-interest loans.

In response to this, the government has explained that it only attached a letter of intent (LOI), which is ⁢usually accompanied by an international bidding process, and did not promise to provide actual funds or provide financial support.

Currently, the two‍ countries are negotiating detailed conditions, including price, with the goal of signing a‌ final contract for the construction of the second nuclear power plant by March next year.

Meanwhile, Director Eller said regarding the intellectual property dispute between Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and westinghouse of the United States, “The Czech government has requested both Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and Westinghouse to resolve the dispute and has been actively supporting this process,” adding, “The Korean-U.S. “We welcome the news of the tentative agreement between governments,” he said.

#Czech nuclear power plant#nuclear power plant

Sejong = Reporter ‌kim Do-hyung [email protected]

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What are the expected environmental benefits of expanding ⁤nuclear energy in the ⁤Czech​ Republic?

Title: The Future of Nuclear Energy ⁣in the Czech Republic ​– An ⁢Interview with Thomas⁤ Eller

Editor: Welcome, Thomas Eller, Acting‍ Director of Nuclear New‌ Technology at the Czech ‌Ministry of Industry. It’s a pleasure to have ‍you with⁢ us today.

Thomas ⁢eller: Thank you for having⁤ me.I’m excited to discuss‌ the future of nuclear energy in ⁣the⁢ Czech Republic.

Editor: Let’s dive ⁢right in. I understand ​that the Czech‍ government ‌has selected Korea Hydro & Nuclear power (KHNP) ⁣as the preferred negotiating partner for⁤ the construction of ‌new units at the Dukovany nuclear power plant.‌ What were​ the key factors that influenced this decision?

Thomas Eller: The decision⁣ was primarily based on⁢ KHNP’s expertise and experience in nuclear power construction. We beleive ⁢thay have⁢ the technical capability ‍to deliver this complex project efficiently and safely.⁢ Additionally,ther’s a strong⁤ partnership focus on transferring technology and building local capacity during the project.

Editor: That’s insightful. I’ve read ‌that ⁢there were some suspicions regarding financial promises ‌made by ⁢the Czech government. Can you clarify the funding details‍ for the‍ Dukovany Units 5 and 6?

Thomas Eller: certainly. There ⁢has been some speculation,but I⁤ can ⁤confirm that the⁣ financial model ‍for Dukovany Unit 6 is expected to ​be finalized by the end of‌ this year.⁣ It’s true that the⁢ Czech government will provide a state loan for this project—this is⁤ part of our strategy to ensure ⁢energy security and reduce carbon emissions.

Editor: It sounds​ like a meaningful investment. ⁣How much funding are we ⁣talking about for these projects?

Thomas Eller: The ⁤total budget for both Dukovany Units 5 and 6 is around 24 trillion won, ​which translates to roughly 1.8 billion euros.⁢ Unit 5 has already been confirmed for ‌funding through the Czech government budget, and Unit 6 is set to follow suit.

Editor: This leads ⁣to ⁤an fascinating point about‍ domestic political reactions.How has‍ this decision‌ been received back home in the Czech Republic, especially​ given the political ⁢discussions around the loans?

Thomas Eller: ‌ Naturally, there are diverse opinions⁢ on this subject. Some political⁢ factions raised‌ concerns regarding ⁢the ⁣financial implications and potential dependencies on foreign partners. However,⁢ our government⁤ believes in the importance of secure, long-term energy sources. Addressing these⁣ fears through transparency about​ the investment and its‌ necessity for our energy future is part of our mission.

Editor: I understand that there were also comments made in Korea regarding the potential for low-interest loans. How⁣ is the Czech government addressing these claims?

Thomas eller: Our government has ⁣been transparent about the process.We only provided a⁣ letter of intent ‍(LOI) without any binding agreements at this stage. The discussions are​ ongoing, and ​any financial arrangements will be ⁤finalized ‍as ⁢we proceed ​with the negotiations.

Editor: Speaking‍ of the ⁢future, what are your hopes for the long-term ​impact of these new nuclear units on the Czech energy landscape?

Thomas Eller: We aim to strengthen our‌ energy⁢ independence and reduce greenhouse ‍gas ⁤emissions⁣ significantly.⁢ Expanding our ⁣nuclear ⁤capabilities is a⁤ crucial step ⁣in achieving⁣ our ⁣national targets for​ energy transition, ensuring a sustainable and stable energy supply for future generations.

Editor: Thank you for sharing these‌ insights,⁤ Thomas.​ It’s clear ⁣that the Czech Republic is ⁢making crucial strides in ⁣nuclear energy, something that can benefit​ not only your nation⁤ but also‌ contribute positively to‍ global ‍emission​ reduction efforts.

Thomas Eller: Thank you for⁢ the opportunity to‌ discuss this pivotal⁢ growth. We are‍ committed to ensuring the success of this project for ⁢the benefit of our citizens and the surroundings.

Editor: ⁣Thank you,Thomas. We ⁢look forward to following the‍ progress on the Dukovany nuclear ⁢power ​plant.

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