Czechs sign an agreement with South Korea to build nuclear reactors after a court opens the way

Prague (AP) – The Government of the Czech Republic signed an agreement on Wednesday with the South Khnp South Korean public service, to build two nuclear reactors in the country.

The contract between the dominant electricity company CEZ, where the Czech state has a majority participation, and Khnp was signed only a few hours after a court of appeal rejected a lower court decision according to which blocked the government of the signing of the contract.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala called him “a crucial stage” so that the country becomes more self -sufficient and secure in energy.

“Nuclear energy is important for the Czech Republic,” said Fiala.

Earlier Wednesday, the Supreme Administrative Court said that the decision was not in accordance with the law, which means that the signing of the agreement could continue.

Khnp won A lucrative public offer Last year, beating a competing offer from French EDF.

The two new reactors will be built at the existing Dukany power plant in an effort for the country to become fossil fuels.

The contract between CEZ and KHNP was to be signed on May 7, but EDF filed a legal challenge to the regional court in the second largest Czech city in Brno after the Czech anti-monopoly office rejected its complaint concerning the tender.

The Regional Court said on May 6 that the agreement could not be signed before it set up on the EDF case, because there would be no way to change it even if the French company won.

Cez and Khnp challenged this.

The two new reactors will complete the four units of 510 megawatts of Dukany which were completed in the 1980s. The total cost was 407 billion Koruna ($ 18.7 billion), said Daniel Beneš, CEZ Managing Director.

The first new reactor should become operational for a trial by 2036, the second about two years later.

Unlike its Western neighbors, Austria and Germany, the Czech Republic doubles nuclear energy and renewable energy sources after having decided to eliminate coal for energy production by 2033 to reduce carbon emissions.

The Czech Republic is already based on six nuclear reactors to generate more than a third of its electricity. In addition to four in Dukany, the state controlled electricity company, CEZ, operates two reactors of 1,000 megawatts at the Temelin factory.