Hanhyewon, Dujung, and Others Form 'Team Korea' to Fully Pursue Czech Nuclear Power Plant Project Contract

Czech Republic Confirms Business Model Early This Month... Bid Invitation to Be Issued Within the Year

Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant in Czech Republic. (Photo by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) announced on the 14th that it will form a dedicated bidding team called 'Team Korea' this month, together with Korea Electric Power Technology, KEPCO Fuel, Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction, and Daewoo Engineering & Construction, to pursue contracts for the Czech Republic nuclear power plant project.

The Czech Republic is prioritizing the construction of a 1000?1200 MW (megawatt) class nuclear power plant in the Dukovany region. The project cost alone is 8 trillion won, and the country is considered to have the greatest export potential.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Czech Republic held a supply model workshop for potential suppliers in February to proceed with new nuclear power plant construction orders.

Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant in Czech Republic. (Photo by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power)

KHNP presented the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) turnkey model, citing successful cases in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and domestic projects.

The Czech side confirmed the EPC business model earlier this month and notified that a new nuclear power plant project bidding guideline will be issued by the end of this year.

Once the bidding guideline is issued, the process will include six months of bid preparation and submission, followed by evaluation of suppliers.

KHNP is also pursuing the European Utility Requirements (EUR) certification to objectively verify the technical stability of the 'APR1000' reactor type planned for bidding.

To secure the project, KHNP has sponsored the Czech ice hockey team, conducted volunteer activities in the new nuclear power plant region, and provided medical supplies for COVID-19 prevention.

A KHNP official stated, "Last year, we met with Czech Minister of Industry Havl??ek and others to explain the safety and economic feasibility of the Korean-type nuclear power plant, as well as successful cases of domestic and Barakah nuclear power projects," adding, "KHNP is currently considered one of the most preferred potential suppliers in the Czech Republic."

Luminai Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant. (Photo by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power)

KHNP is also pursuing entry into the Romanian nuclear power plant operation and maintenance market and the Egyptian El Dabaa nuclear power plant construction project.

In Romania, Units 1 and 2 of the Cernavod? plant are in commercial operation. A major facility upgrade project is underway to extend the operation of Unit 1. KHNP expects the operation and maintenance market to open in these nuclear power plants.

KHNP is preparing a dedicated bidding team jointly with domestic partners to secure contracts for the tritium removal facility (TRF) at the Cernavod? nuclear power plant in Romania, with bidding expected in the second half of the year.

Location of El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant in Egypt. (Photo by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power)

Additionally, KHNP is in discussions with Russia to participate in the secondary side sector of the Egyptian El Dabaa nuclear power plant, which is under construction by Russia.

In April, KHNP signed a 'Canada Decommissioning Engineering Support Contract' with Canadian nuclear engineering company Kinectrics and plans to dispatch nuclear power plant decommissioning personnel overseas within this year. This marks the first time decommissioning personnel are being sent abroad.

Jung Jae-hoon, President of KHNP, said, "Domestically, we are committed to safe nuclear power plant operation, and internationally, we are engaging in strategic bidding activities to create a globally favorable environment for nuclear power plant contracts."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.