Czech state power company ČEZ has started a preparatory process to enable the long-term operation of the Dukovany NPP. ČEZ said this was part of its long-term strategy as a stable and reliable supplier of low-emission electricity even in times of dynamic changes on the energy market. Analyses are also being carried out on the possible longer operation of the Temelín NPP. Four VVER-440 units are currently in operation at the Dukovany site, which began operating between 1985 and 1987. Two VVER-1000 units are in operation at Temelín, which began operation in 2000 and 2002.
“We planned to operate our NPPs for about 60 years and we are convinced every day that they are in excellent condition. Current economic and safety analyses confirm that it will be possible to operate Dukovany for longer,” said ČEZ CEO Daniel Beneš. Eighty years of operation is becoming a trend in the world, and a number of units have already been licensed for 80 years of operation. We see this as realistic for us as well, provided of course that the condition of the equipment and the safety of operation are regularly evaluated.”
He added: “Of course, this will not affect the project to build a new NPP at Dukovany and other small modular reactors. Electricity consumption will grow rapidly, and the Czech Republic will need as much emission-free electricity as possible.”
ČEZ regularly evaluates the future operation of its nuclear plants using a technology and financial model, which assesses the technical condition of key components and the expected development of electricity prices and other inputs. These analyses indicate that the long-term operation of the Dukovany NPP is very feasible. Analyses are now also being carried out on the potential extension of the Temelín plant’s operation.
Czech NPPs spend around CZK7bn ($336m) a year on safety enhancements and upgrades. These projects create thousands of jobs and bring long-term contracts and export potential to Czech companies – from engineering to highly specialised nuclear engineering.
Extending operation to 80 years will require extensive capital projects and upgrade programmes. These include, for example, the renewal of some elements of the engine rooms – generators as well as other large units; the reconstruction of selected piping routes; replacement of valves and electrical elements; as well as the gradual introduction of new control and safety systems.
“Every year we evaluate the conditions for further operation in great detail, and all key decisions are supervised by the State Office for Nuclear Safety (SÚJB – Státního Úřadu pro Jadernou Bezpečnost), said Bohdan Zronek, ČEZ Board Member and Director of the Nuclear Power Division. “In ten-year cycles, our nuclear power plants undergo detailed and demanding ‘periodic safety assessments’. Rigorous preparation and perfect knowledge of the condition of the plant is a prerequisite for any decision.”
As a result of upgrades, both Dukovany and Temelín both generate significantly higher power outputs than when they were commissioned – around 512 MWe at Dukovany and 1,086 MWe at Temelín. “It is as if we had built another Dukovany unit,” noted Zronek.
ČEZ is continuing its upgrade projects. At Dukovany, major parts of the engine rooms, including the turbo sets and generators, are being replaced. Both power plants are launching large-scale projects to upgrade their control and safety systems. The reactor pressure vessels are subject to rigorous long-term monitoring and there is no need to replace them. According to ČEZ, their technical condition is regularly assessed and meets all requirements for safe operation.
SÚJB Chairman Štěpán Kochánek stressed that the extension of operation is only possible if the specified conditions are met. “We will always judge very strictly and in detail each step and each submitted evaluation,” he said.
