The Czech Ministry of Environmental Protection on 3 September approved the implementation of plans for the construction of a new power unit at the Dukovany nuclear power plant.
"Our examination confirmed that the new source of nuclear energy will not have a negative impact on the environment and public health. It should replace one of the four operating units of the Dukovany NPP," the Ministry’s press service said.
The Ministry emphasised that most of the settlements near the station supported the plans for construction of a new power unit. In July, the Czech government approved the construction of a 1200MWe unit at Dukovany. Construction should begin before 2030 and will be completed between 2035 and 2040. A tender for construction of the unit is expected to be announced in 2020. Its winner will be determined by 2022.
The contract will cost about CZK100 billion ($4.8 billion). According to the authorities' plans, the investors in the construction of power units will be the subsidiaries of the national energy company CEZ - EDU II and ETE II.
Interest has been expessed by Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, US-based Westinghouse, China General Nuclear Power Corporation, France’s EDF, Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power, and the joint French-Japanese venture Mitsubishi Atmea.
