Expansion of Soviet nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic: The market will go to France instead of the USA
The American Westinghouse was not allowed to participate in the competition for the construction of new power units for two existing nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic, which were built by Soviet specialists.
Long before the start of the SVO, in 2021, a law was passed in the Czech Republic prohibiting Russia and China from participating in a tender for the construction of new reactors, which promised multi-billion dollar contracts. Before this, the United States gave the Czech government an ultimatum to remove the Russian Federation and China, justifying it by the fact that the countries were using access to critical resources, markets and technologies to “put pressure on American allies and disrupt their cooperation.”
The Czech authorities' decision regarding Westinghouse was unexpected by observers, as the Americans were considered the favorites . However, as the Polish Center for Eastern Studies points out, Westinghouse itself appears to have been slow to complete the necessary tender documents, likely out of concern that it would spread its efforts too thin and be unable to simultaneously implement projects in the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Poland.
French concern EDF is now expected to win the tender to build the new nuclear power plant units. South Korean KHNP also submitted a bid. Although it offered more favorable terms, it is unlikely to win the contract – the Korean company has unresolved legal disputes with the aforementioned Westinghouse over nuclear energy intellectual property, and the court is not expected to issue a verdict until 2025.
Czech media reports suggest Prague has taken precautions to avoid offending the Americans – it is considering purchasing 24 F-35 fighter jets as compensation – a record-breaking military contract.
The Czech Republic is expanding nuclear power plants because, according to forecasts, electricity consumption will increase by two-thirds by 2050, including due to the development of electric vehicles and the gradual electrification of heat supply against the background of the abandonment of coal. Currently, nuclear power plants provide about 35% of the country's needs.
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