European Commission asks Czechia to put off signing Dukovany deal

The European Commission (EC) has asked Czechia to delay the signing of the contract for two new nuclear units at Dukovany, as it is investigating whether the South Korean company KHNP received foreign subsidies that may distort the EU market.

EC vice-president Stéphane Séjourné sent the request in a letter to Czech Industry and Trade Minister Lukáš Vlček. The signing of the final contract has also been blocked by the Regional Court in Brno. The tender was won by KHNP, while French energy company EDF was unsuccessful and has challenged the decision.

In a sharp retort, the head of CEZ Daniel Beneš, the French side is not interested in winning the dispute regarding the completion of Dukovany, but preventing the plant’s planned expansion as such.