The Czech Republic’s effort to become the nuclear center of Europe

– International news – Tasnim News Agency According to German “NTV”, the Czech government is accelerating the expansion of its nuclear energy. Liberal-conservative Prime Minister Petr Fiala has announced plans to order up to four new reactor blocks at once, surprising many observers. Thus, the current tender, which initially envisaged only the completion of one new reactor by 2036, has now been extended. Czech citizens and Czech companies must be sure that there will be enough energy in the future and at acceptable prices. He added: This is the basis of our happiness.

He emphasized that the Czech Republic, as an industrial country, can become a “nuclear energy center”. Fiala expects the price of each reactor to drop by 25 percent for a larger bulk order. French nuclear company EDF and South Korean rival KHNP have now been asked to submit binding offers by the end of April. This decision can be made in early May.

The American company Westinghouse, which received the contract to build the first nuclear power plant in this neighboring country of Poland, is no longer involved in this project. The company’s offer was not binding, so it could not be included in the assessment, said Petr Soler of state nuclear operator CEZ. He emphasized: It is not yet clear exactly how many reactors there will be.

Soler explained that the government as an investor can use all options, but does not have to. Solar noted that the European Union has classified nuclear power as climate-friendly under certain conditions. According to him, this was regulated through the so-called classification regulations.

Urban Mangold, one of the German nuclear experts, has of course announced that the Czech government’s plans endanger the safety of the people of Bavaria. He emphasized: Nuclear energy is expensive and dangerous and makes you dependent on uranium resources. According to him, in the worst case, nuclear reactors can even become a military target.

The recent energy strategy of the Czech government predicts that by 2040, the share of nuclear energy in the country’s electricity mix will increase from Increase one third to more than half. The production of electricity with coal fuel in this country is supposed to end by 2033.

The approach of the pro-nuclear cabinet has been largely welcomed by the people and the media, and of course it has had critics.

Analysts’ estimates of total costs vary widely, ranging from more than 30 billion euros to almost 80 billion euros for the four reactor blocks. Critics warn that this may not necessarily be worthwhile – depending on how prices in electricity markets develop in the future. According to them, a lot of expenses have already been incurred. The government in Prague has just decided to pour more than 500 million euros over the next ten years into renewing the transport infrastructure around the Dukovany nuclear power plant site in South Moravia.