Czech competition office backs Dukovany deal

The Office for the Protection of Economic Competition has dismissed an appeal by French energy company EDF, confirming that the selection of Korean firm KHNP in the Dukovany nuclear tender was conducted properly. The decision brings the appeal process to a close.

According to Petr Mlsna, president of the competition office, the ruling clears the way for Czech energy group ČEZ to finalize construction contracts with KHNP, which are expected to be signed in the coming weeks.

EDF can still challenge the decision at the Regional Court in Brno but has not yet announced its next steps.

The Czech government selected KHNP last July over EDF. A third bidder, Westinghouse, had been excluded earlier. Both EDF and Westinghouse raised concerns about transparency and KHNP’s rights to use the proposed technology, but the competition office found no violations.