Yoon: "South Korea's Nuclear Power Competitiveness Recognized by Global Market... Thanks to Team Korea and the People"

Czech Government Selects KHNP as Preferred Negotiation Partner
"A Great Achievement 15 Years After Winning Barakah Nuclear Power Plant Contract"

Sung Tae-yoon, Chief of Policy Office at the Presidential Office, is briefing on the selection of the preferred bidder for the new nuclear power plant construction project in the Czech Republic on the afternoon of the 17th at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol expressed his appreciation for Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) being selected as the preferred negotiation partner for the new nuclear power plant construction project in the Czech Republic, stating, "The world’s best Korean nuclear power industry competitiveness has once again been recognized in the global market," and urged, "Please do your best for the final contract with the spirit of Team Korea."

Seong Tae-yoon, the Policy Chief of the Presidential Office, held a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the afternoon of the 17th and conveyed, "President Yoon said he deeply thanks our businesspeople who ran together as 'Team Korea,' nuclear power sector workers, government officials, and the citizens who supported with one heart."

Seong said, "Just a moment ago, the Czech government announced that KHNP was finally selected as the preferred negotiation partner for the new nuclear power plant construction project, which could involve up to four units," adding, "Thus, KHNP became the preferred negotiation partner for the construction of two Dukovany nuclear reactors, and if the Czech government later decides to build two Temel?n nuclear reactors, KHNP will also be the preferred negotiation partner."

He continued, "This is a great achievement 15 years after winning the UAE (United Arab Emirates) Barakah nuclear power plant project in 2009, establishing a foothold for exporting our nuclear power plants to Europe, the birthplace of commercial nuclear reactors," and expressed gratitude to the Czech government for choosing Korea in the largest investment project in Czech history.

Seong explained, "The Czech government stated that KHNP’s bid was excellent in all evaluation criteria," and added, "The total expected project cost is 24 trillion won, and the contract amount will be finalized after future negotiations."

Seong emphasized that President Yoon has been conducting sales diplomacy for Korean nuclear power at every opportunity since his inauguration, starting with a summit with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala in Spain in June 2022, followed by the United Nations General Assembly, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit.

He added, "Just last week, the President held a summit with Czech President Petr Pavel in Washington, D.C., and sent a letter to Prime Minister Fiala, once again emphasizing the excellence of our companies and the vision of bilateral cooperation in building nuclear power plants together."

Earlier, the Czech government held a cabinet meeting on the 17th (local time) and selected KHNP as the preferred negotiation partner for the new nuclear power plant construction project.

The Czech Republic plans to add up to four reactors with a capacity of less than 1,200 MW to the existing Dukovany and Temel?n nuclear power plants, and in April, it received final bids from KHNP and ?lectricit? de France (EDF).

KHNP has been working hard to win the contract by forming 'Team Korea' with domestic companies such as KEPCO Engineering & Construction, Korea Nuclear Fuel, KEPCO KPS, Doosan Enerbility, and Daewoo Engineering & Construction.