During the visit to Prague by South Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry & Energy, Kim Jung-kwan, a new oversight body was launched to manage the expansion of the Dukovany NPP. The Czech Ministry of Industry & Trade said the ministerial steering committee will operate under the Supply Chain and Energy Dialogue with the aim of ensuring the project remains on schedule and within its allocated budget.
The Czech Republic plans to build two new units at Dukovany next to the four existing units. Project company Elektrárna Dukovany II signed contracts in June 2025 with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) for two APR1000 reactors after KHNP won the tender for the construction. The cost of building one reactor is estimated at around CZK200bn ($9.8bn). Construction of the reactors is scheduled to begin in five years, with preparatory work expected to cost CZK80–8bn. The first reactor is planned to go online in 2036. The new steering committee will include the ministers of industry of both countries together with representatives of KHNP and Elektrárna Dukovany II.
The Czech Republic currently gets about a third of its electricity from the four VVER-440 units at Dukovany, which began operating between 1985 and 1987, and the two VVER-1000 units in operation at Temelín, which came into operation in 2000 and 2002.
Several industrial contracts were finalised during Kim’s visit. A primary agreement was reached for the supply of the plant’s turbine, which will be designed and manufactured in Pilsen by Doosan Škoda Power. KHNP also signed a contract with ÚJV Řež, Energoprojekt from the ÚJV Group for support with permitting and licensing processes.
A central priority for the Czech government is integration of domestic firms into the nuclear supply chain. Currently, nearly 160 Czech companies are in the registration process to become suppliers for the construction of Dukovany 5&6.
“We consider the strong involvement of Czech companies in the construction of new units important for future operation and maintenance as well,” said Petr Závodský, CEO of Elektrárna Dukovany II. “Technology from Czech suppliers represents a great advantage for the subsequent decades of operation and maintenance of the new power plant. For us, it means greater flexibility during outages and modernisations, faster reactions to potential problems, and above all, greater independence.”
Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry & Trade Karel Havlíček stressed the importance of the Dukovany project remaining on schedule and within budget. “That’s why Minister Kim and I set up a steering ministerial committee and we will continuously check the preparation and construction process,” he said. He welcomed the conclusion of the turbine and licensing contracts. “I will continue to consistently promote that Czech companies have a level playing field and the highest possible share in the project and subsequent investments that will bring work and other opportunities for domestic business,” he noted.
Kim affirmed that Korea considers the Dukovany project to be a strategic partnership with the Czech Republic. “We want to ensure effective cooperation between our governments and industry and smooth implementation of the project,” he said.
“We greatly appreciate KHNP’s decision that the production of electricity in the two new units of the Dukovany NPP will be provided by turbines designed by Czech engineers and manufactured at our Pilsen plant,” said the Executive Director of Doosan Škoda Power, Daniel Procházka. “It is not only a sign of confidence in our cutting-edge technology, but also an important factor for the future safe operation and service of turbines for decades of the life of the power plant.”
Doosan Enerbility said it had signed a contract worth about KRW320bn ($221.7m) with its subsidiary Doosan Skoda Power for the steam turbines and a turbine control system for Dukovany 5&6. The contract covers steam turbines, generators, and a turbine control system, with a total of two sets to be supplied. Doosan Enerbility will collaborate with Doosan Skoda Power for the first time through this project. Doosan Enerbility plans to maximise synergy by combining the rich manufacturing experience of its Czech subsidiary with its own nuclear primary equipment technologies.
During his visit, Kim had meetings with newly inaugurated Prime Minister Andrej Babiš as well as Industry Minister Havlíček. Babiš took office in December 2025. Kim conveyed Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s congratulations on the inauguration and warm regards, delivering a personal letter from the president. “We will provide full support to ensure the successful construction of the Dukovany nuclear power plant,” Kim said. “We hope to further solidify the cooperative framework between our two countries and look forward to partnering with Korea at Temelín following Dukovany.”
The Czech government and Elektrárna Dukovany II had said in July 2024 that they would proceed with Dukovany 5&6 first, then decide on constructing new units 3&4 at the Temelín site. KHNP noted that if the Czech government decides to build two additional reactors at Temelín within the next five years, KHNP would be willing to sign a contract for the construction.
