The scheduled construction of new nuclear reactors at the Czech nuclear power plant Dukovany was halted after the Anti-Monopoly Office took a preliminary measure to suspend a contract with South Korea’s KHNP.
The decision followed formal complaints from the losing bidders, EDF of France and Westinghouse of the US. They complained that the recently concluded tender process lacked transparency and fairness.
EDF acknowledges the decision made by the Office for the Protection of Competition (ÚOHS) concerning the ongoing proceedings related to the Dukovany project tendering process. EDF fully respects the work and process led by ÚOHS and will cooperate as needed in the upcoming steps.
This prevents the Czech state-owned energy company ČEZ from signing a contract with KHNP until the competition authority assessed the merits of the complaints. The authority called the decision “a standard step for procedural assurance” in cases where a final judgement had not yet been issued.
The issuance of preliminary measures does not indicate how the case will be decided.
EDF also requested the European Commission to investigate foreign subsidies and to reconsider the Czech Republic’s decision to award the nuclear reactor contract to a South Korean supplier.
Negotiations between ČEZ and KHNP were ongoing and focused on the shape of the final contract, ČEZ spokesperson Ladislav Kříž assured. According to the current schedule, the contract should be ready for signing by 31 March 2025.
It can be expected that by that time, the ÚOHS will be able to make a decision in the proceedings so that the signing of the contract is not delayed.
