Emmanuel Macron has faced fresh humiliation after an EU ally snubbed his £5bn nuclear plot. During his visit to Prague on Tuesday, the French President was dealt a blow as Czechia expressed concerns over the plans.
The snub is undoubtedly a set back for the French company EDF’s bid to build new nuclear units at the Dukovany power plant in the Czech Republic.
Macron, in an effort to support EDF, stressed the importance of Czechia choosing European partners over non-European ones, specifically pointing out the US and South Korean companies also vying for the tender. However, the Czech government raised concerns regarding potential cost overruns and delays associated with EDF’s projects.
Jozef Síkela, the Czech minister of industry and trade, highlighted the crucial need for contracts to encompass costs and deadlines.
“We will try to achieve as much contractual coverage as possible,” he said, emphasising the importance of a contract that leaves no room for changes in the final price and technical parameters while ensuring timely project completion.
The evaluation of bids will take into account various factors, including price, schedule, safety guarantees, and potential subcontractors, according to Minister Síkela.
To make things worse for France, a Czech NGO cautioned against choosing the French supplier, citing serious problems within the country’s nuclear industry.
Edvard Sequens, an energy consultant with Calla – the Association for the Preservation of the Environment, said: “The French nuclear industry is facing really serious problems.”
He pointed out EDF’s challenges in building new reactors on time and at promised prices, raising doubts about their ability to fulfil the Dukovany project requirements.
As of now, two leading bidders, EDF and the South Korean company KHNP, have successfully submitted their bids, while the bid from the US company Westinghouse did not meet the Czech government’s conditions. Westinghouse has until April 15 to submit a new bid, which Minister Síkela indicated would be considered if it presented better conditions for the Czech Republic.
The contract with the selected company is expected to be signed at the end of 2024. The Czech government had initially estimated the project cost at around £5 billion excluding inflation in 2020, a figure that has likely risen since then.
