Czech utility CEZ has revealed that all the reactor suppliers who had applied to participate in the public tender for the construction of two new units at its Temelin nuclear power plant had met the qualification conditions and advanced to the next stage.

CEZ launched the tender in August 2009 and the deadline for applications to participate in the tender expired at the end of October 2009. CEZ said the units would be generation III pressurised water reactors, but did not reveal further details.

Having completed its review of the application, CEZ has now confirmed that all the bidders – Areva, Westinghouse and Atomstroyexport – met the qualification criteria and could continue to participate in the tender process.

Westinghouse said that on 18 February it received confirmation from CEZ that it had successfully complied with the qualification requirements. In a statement the US-firm said its AP1000 plant was “well positioned towards providing a greater level of energy security for the people of the Czech Republic.”

Areva has put in a bid for its EPR, while Russians have put in a bid based on the VVER-1200 reactors under construction at Leningrad Phase II and Novovoronezh Phase II.