Minister of Industry: "Czech Nuclear Power Plant Is Not a Losing Deal"

"France and the US Are Also Lingering"
Grading the Outcomes of the Czech Visit... 'A+'

Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Anduk Geun stated that the new nuclear power plant construction project in Dukovany, Czech Republic, won by Korean companies, is "not a losing business at all."

Minister Ahn appeared on KBS 'News 7' on the afternoon of the 23rd to refute claims of low-price bidding for the Czech nuclear power plant project raised by some. He emphasized the fact that French and American companies competed with Korean companies for the project, saying, "If it were a losing business, why would France or Westinghouse (a U.S. nuclear power company) be so persistent?" President Yoon Suk-yeol confirmed the Czech government's intention to finalize the contract for the Dukovany nuclear power plant construction project during his 4-day, 2-night visit to the Czech Republic.

Anduk Geun, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy. Photo by Yongjun Cho jun21@

Minister Ahn said, "By effectively utilizing technologically capable Czech companies, I believe we have created a good platform for both countries to jointly build a nuclear power ecosystem and enter the global nuclear power market together in the future." When asked by the host to rate the achievements of this Czech visit, he replied, "I think I can definitely give it an A+." He added, "Not only in the nuclear power sector but also in establishing a deep cooperative relationship with the Czech Republic, which has significant strengths in manufacturing fields such as precision machinery, aerospace, and defense based on nuclear cooperation."

Some, including the Democratic Party of Korea, raised suspicions that the profits returning to Korea from winning the Dukovany nuclear power plant construction contract might be minimal. Minister Ahn's remarks on this day are analyzed as a clarification of these suspicions. Minister Ahn accompanied President Yoon Suk-yeol on his visit to the Czech Republic from the 19th to the 22nd.

Regarding the intellectual property lawsuit filed by the U.S. company Westinghouse, Minister Ahn said, "The governments of both Korea and the U.S. share a deep consensus that we must cooperate to resolve this issue," and added, "We will work hard to resolve it soon." Westinghouse raised concerns with the Czech antitrust authorities on the 26th of last month (local time), claiming that the Korean nuclear power plant infringed on its proprietary technology.

On the same day, Minister Ahn spoke about the East Sea deep-sea gas field development project, known as the 'Great Whale,' stating, "We have completed the bidding for the investment advisory firm today, and we plan to select the investment advisory firm soon and proceed smoothly with overseas investment companies," adding, "Currently, quite technologically capable overseas companies are showing interest."