EDF formally a candidate for the construction of an EPR in the Czech Republic

EDF intends to design, build and commission a new reactor of the 1.200 range in the Czech Dukovany power plant in the east of the country, initially built by Russia, and operated by the Czech energy company CEZ.

The firm offer, submitted to CEZ and its subsidiary Elektrana, is accompanied by two other "indicative proposals" for an additional reactor at Dukovany (unit 6) and two on the Temelin site (units 3 and 4), the second power plant of the country, i.e. a potential total of four new reactors.

The Czech Republic, which currently operates six nuclear reactors to produce electricity, is also the third most coal-consuming country in Europe, behind Germany and Poland.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), at the end of 2021, coal represented 30,1% of the final primary energy consumption of the country of 10,7 million inhabitants, its main source of energy ahead of oil (21,1%), nuclear (19,5%) and natural gas (18,5%).

The government hopes to phase out coal by 2038 to reduce its CO2 emissions which contribute to climate warming, and to compensate with a growing contribution from renewable and nuclear sectors, welcomed the IEA.

EDF's proposal follows a first non-binding offer submitted at the end of 2022 to the Czech government, the call for tenders for which was launched on March 17, 2022. EDF is awaiting the choice of the Czech party between the different candidates for "the next spring."

The French energy company “proposes to be the single entry point for the integration of EPR1200 technology and project execution”.

It relies on its subsidiary Framatome for “the supply of design studies and equipment for the boiler and control system” as well as “its trusted historical partners”: GE Steam Power for the supply of “design studies and equipment for the conventional island, including the supply of the Arabelle 1000 steam turbine", and Bouygues Travaux Publics "for the construction of civil engineering".

EDF has also identified “nearly 300 Czech companies” likely to be suppliers to the projects, of which “90 have already been pre-qualified”.

According to Les Echos, the French proposal would involve an investment of some 10 billion euros, a figure not confirmed by the group. The daily believes that the American Westinghouse and the Korean KHNP are also candidates.

For EDF CEO Luc Rémont, quoted in the press release, "by joining the European EPR community, the Czech Republic will benefit from a significant fleet effect and multiple industrial synergies between current and future nuclear programs in France, in the UK and beyond. In Europe, EDF has two EPR construction sites underway, at Hinckley Point (Great Britain) and Flamanville (France).