[Report] Doosan Skoda Power Manufacturing Turbines for Dukovany Units 5 and 6: "Key to Czech Nuclear Localization"

Supplying 20-30% of the Czech Nuclear Power Project
Steam Turbines for Germany in Full Production
Lim Youngki, CEO: "Accelerating Expansion into the European Market"

"The 'Team Korea' bidding for the Czech nuclear power plant includes the local company Doosan Skoda Power." (Lim Youngki, CEO of Doosan Skoda Power)

On the 9th (local time), I visited Doosan Skoda Power located in Plzen, Czech Republic. Plzen, located 90 kilometers southeast of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is the country's fourth largest city and an industrial hub similar to Ulsan in Korea. In German, Plzen is pronounced "Pilsen," and in English, "Pilsen" as well. It is also the birthplace of the world's first golden lager beer, Pilsner Urquell.

At the Doosan Skoda Power factory visited that day, steam turbines destined for a German waste heat power plant were being produced. Workers were assembling the turbine blades, which are the core rotating parts of the turbine, using bolts. A representative from Doosan Skoda Power explained, "Before Doosan acquired Skoda in 2009, Doosan Heavy Industries did not possess original turbine technology," and added, "Through the acquisition of Skoda, we secured the original turbine technology."

On the 9th (local time), workers at the Doosan ?koda Power factory located in Plzen, Czech Republic, are assembling turbines to be delivered to a German waste heat power plant. (Photo by Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy joint press corps)

Doosan Skoda Power will also participate in the construction of the Dukovany Units 5 and 6 nuclear power project, for which Team Korea is about to sign the final contract. Lim Youngki, CEO of Doosan Skoda Power, said, "If Doosan Enerbility later signs a detailed contract with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power for the supply of main equipment to the Czech Dukovany nuclear power plant, Doosan Enerbility will supply the core primary system equipment such as reactors and steam generators to the new Czech nuclear plant," and emphasized, "Doosan Skoda Power plans to handle the manufacturing of steam turbines and generators locally in the Czech Republic." The specific scale of the order has not yet been determined. CEO Lim explained, "The delivery volume for Doosan Skoda Power will only be finalized after the main contract between Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and the Czech power company is signed and subsequent contracts are awarded through bidding."

However, the Czech government expects Doosan Skoda Power's participation rate in the Dukovany Units 5 and 6 construction project to reach 20 to 30 percent. Previously, on the 7th (local time), a representative from the Czech power company stated, "We are working to have Doosan Skoda Power supply not only the turbines but the entire turbine hall," and added, "We can guarantee a localization ratio of 20 to 30 percent."

Skoda Power was founded in 1869 by Emil Skoda and delivered its first nuclear turbine in 1976. Since then, it has supplied a total of 30 nuclear power turbines to four countries, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Finland, such as the 1,100 MW turbine delivered in 2014. After Doosan Enerbility acquired Skoda Power in 2009, the company was renamed Doosan Skoda Power and was listed on the Czech stock market in February this year.

A view of Doosan ?koda Power located in Plzen, Czech Republic, visited on the 9th (local time). (Photo by Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy joint press corps)

CEO Lim stated, "Doosan Skoda Power plans to receive generator technology transfer from Doosan Enerbility, which will further enhance our ability to execute nuclear power projects," and added, "We aim to strengthen Doosan Skoda Power's competitiveness in the next-generation power equipment sector, including large-scale nuclear power plants, small modular reactors (SMRs), and gas turbines, and accelerate our expansion into the European market."

Meanwhile, it is expected to take some time before Team Korea and the Czech side sign the final contract for Dukovany Units 5 and 6. Previously, on the 7th (local time), the parties attempted to proceed with the final contract, but the schedule was postponed due to an injunction filed by the competing company, Electricite de France (EDF). In response, the Czech government pre-approved Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power's new nuclear power contract through a cabinet meeting, so that the contract can be signed immediately once the domestic court's injunction is lifted. In addition, the Czech side plans to file a lawsuit to overturn EDF's injunction and to claim damages from EDF for the delay in signing the main contract.