Dukovany project on schedule, says Czech ministry's progress report

In the department's update on progress in the year since the contract with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) was signed for two new nuclear units near the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant, it says the current first phase - due to last four years - "is primarily focused on developing project and licensing documentation, obtaining all necessary permits and ensuring the necessary infrastructure for the start of construction. This is expected to happen in 2029".

The geological drilling involved hundreds of exploratory wells, followed by laboratory testing of samples and a final report stretching to more than 6,000 pages, which will also form the basis for the creation of a 3D model of the site.

KHNP submitted the conceptual design in April for the overall power plant which includes "all changes compared with the standard APR1000 project solution, resulting from the need to take into account the legislative environment of the Czech Republic, specific conditions at the site and the investor's requirements defined in the contract". It is currently open for comments before the next, more detailed stage of documentation.

On the supply chain side, ČEZ Energetické projekty carried out the geological survey work, Doosan Škoda Power was awarded the contract for turbogenerators and Energoprojekt Praha will provide professional consulting services, including for licensing and project documentation. A registration system has also been established for potential Czech and South Korean suppliers.

There have been four training days held, focusing on the APR1000 technology, plus work is being carried out on infrastructure - including bypasses - and the provision of accommodation for the expected 10,000 workers at the site during peak construction.

Petr Závodský, director general of project company Elektrárna Dukovany II, said: "Many thanks to all colleagues and Czech and Korean partners for how smoothly we managed to set up cooperation. I believe that we will continue to proceed in a similarly effective manner." He added: "The preparatory phase is always a bit thankless, because it is not much visible from the outside, but it is absolutely crucial for the subsequent construction to proceed smoothly."

During the second half of the year, the project aims to issue a tender for the supply of cooling towers. Work on an archaeological survey is also under way and a six-floor project company administrative building should also be completed.

To mark the anniversary of signing contracts, KHNP CEO Kim Hoe-chun, joined the industry ministers from the two countries last month to review progress in the Dukovany region and hold a Korea-Czech nuclear industry partnership event in Prague.

_{(Image: Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade)}

Kim said: "KHNP will work closely with the Czech government, the project company, local communities and Czech companies to make this project one of the safest and most successful nuclear power plant construction projects in the world."

The Czech-Korean steering committee for the project met for a second time, with the Czech trade and industry ministry reporting that the construction of the nuclear power plant "is proceeding according to the set schedule. Further steps and activities, including the involvement of Czech industry were also discussed".

South Korea's Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources, Kim Jung-Kwan, said: "Our goal is to ensure the smooth progress of this strategic project and we are pleased that it is proceeding according to the agreed schedule. We consider effective cooperation between the governments of the Korean and Czech Republics and our industries across sectors to be very significant and beneficial for both countries."

Background

The Czech government selected KHNP as its preferred bidder in July 2024 for two new units near the current Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant, about 200 kilometres southeast of Prague. Two more units at the Temelin Nuclear Power Plant are also being considered.

As well as the engineering, procurement and construction contract signed in June 2025, the agreement also includes the supply of nuclear fuel for about a decade - the initial fuel load and five reloads.

The project owner is Dukovany II Nuclear Power Plant, which is 80% owned by the Czech Government and 20% by CEZ, which operates the country's existing nuclear power plants. The cost of the project was said to be CZK407 billion (USD18.6 billion).