Russia Ousted from Czech Nuclear Power Plant Bidding... Three-Way Competition Including Korea

Czech Republic to Expel Rosatom Amid Escalating Conflict with Russia
Other Countries Including Korea Expected to Gain Collateral Benefits

Overview of the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant in the Czech Republic
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] The Czech government has decided to exclude Russian companies from its nuclear power plant bidding competition amid escalating conflicts with Russia. As a result, the competition has been narrowed down to a three-way race among South Korea, the United States, and France.

On the 19th (local time), Karel Havl??ek, the Czech Minister of Industry, announced that the state-owned Russian energy company Rosatom would be excluded from the bidding for the Dukovany nuclear power plant. He stated, "We have decided to exclude Rosatom during the security evaluation phase, which precedes the bidding for the Dukovany nuclear power plant."

Minister Havl??ek added, "We expect that the next government, formed after the elections in October this year, will start the nuclear power plant bidding only among the currently participating countries (South Korea, the United States, and France)."

This move by the Czech authorities comes amid worsening relations between the two countries following the expulsion of Russian diplomats last weekend. Earlier, on the 17th, the Czech government expelled 18 Russian diplomats, claiming to have secured evidence that the Russian government was behind an explosion at a Czech ammunition depot in 2014. In retaliation, Russia expelled 20 Czech diplomats on the 18th, escalating tensions between the two nations.

The Dukovany nuclear power plant project involves investing 6 billion euros (approximately 8 trillion won) to replace the existing aging reactors and is considered the largest infrastructure development project in Czech history. With the Czech authorities' decision to exclude Russia, the nuclear power plant bidding competition has been narrowed down to South Korea, the United States, and France. Earlier this year, the Czech Republic excluded China from the bidding due to security concerns, and now with Russia also excluded, analysts suggest that the remaining countries will benefit from this situation.

Meanwhile, Rosatom expressed opposition to the Czech decision to exclude it from the bidding, calling it "politically motivated." Rosatom stated, "We regret the decision by the Czech authorities," and added, "This prevents us from continuing a mutually beneficial cooperative relationship between the two countries." Al Jazeera described the situation as "the worst relations between the Czech Republic and Russia since the dissolution of the Soviet Union."