With negotiations for the construction contract of the Czech Dukovany nuclear power project having collapsed, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) has decided to directly fill the gap in the project. Until a new contractor is selected, KHNP plans to carry out some tasks directly or through separate contracts to prevent delays in the project schedule. The government, which has activated an emergency management system, stated it would respond firmly to any actions that undermine the trust and cooperation of Team Korea.
On November 12, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeong-kwan chaired a meeting in Seoul to review the progress of the Team Korea Czech nuclear project and discuss ways to strengthen cooperation among public enterprises.
This meeting was convened following the collapse of KHNP's construction contract. Previously, on October 29, KHNP announced the end of negotiations for the construction contract with the Daewoo Engineering & Construction and Doosan Enerbility consortium. This meeting follows a planning review meeting led by the vice minister on November 2, where KHNP's project plans were assessed.
In this context, Minister Kim stated, "We take seriously the concerns raised about the cooperation system of Team Korea and the normal progress of the project due to the recent collapse of the Dukovany nuclear construction contract negotiations." He emphasized that the competitiveness of Team Korea lies not only in technology and pricing but also in the 'Team Korea spirit' that unites individual companies for a greater goal.
He added, "The Ministry will respond firmly to actions that undermine the trust and cooperation of Team Korea to maintain the competitiveness of Korean nuclear power. We will fulfill our responsibilities to ensure that the Czech nuclear project proceeds without disruption."
Minister Kim also called for strengthening the responsibilities and roles of public enterprises involved in nuclear power exports. He stated, "KHNP and other nuclear power enterprises must take on greater responsibility and leadership. They should listen to the voices of partner companies and actively mediate disagreements to solidify the center of Team Korea."
KHNP plans to complete the selection of a new contractor by July 2027 and minimize project gaps by directly performing some tasks that were to be handled by the previous contractor. The tasks have been subdivided into design, permitting, site information verification, and securing accommodation sites. KHNP will establish weekly execution plans for tasks it will perform directly, those assigned to Czech companies under existing contracts, and tasks requiring new contracts.
In particular, KHNP aims to focus on executing key schedules, including the application for construction permits in April next year and the start of construction in November 2029, without delays.
The selection of a new contractor will apply the comprehensive evaluation bidding system under the National Contract Act. This process is expected to be conducted in a shorter timeframe than typical open competitive bidding while ensuring construction capability and fairness.
To this end, KHNP will form a dedicated task force in collaboration with Korea Electric Power Engineering Company and prepare bidding procedures using reference materials from the Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 bidding.
KHNP President Kim Hwae-cheon stated, "Until the contractor is selected, we will deploy additional KHNP personnel to directly perform some tasks. We will thoroughly manage urgent tasks, such as the design of auxiliary facilities, through separate contracts to ensure that necessary work does not come to a halt."
The government will also work on improving systems to preemptively mediate conflicts between companies arising during the nuclear power export process. Minister Kim explained, "We are promoting the enactment of the Nuclear Export Promotion Act to ensure that important matters, such as contracts, are discussed in advance with the Ministry and that solutions can be found through a dispute resolution committee if conflicts arise between companies."
The government plans to strengthen cooperation with the Czech government. It will activate various consultation channels, including a ministerial-level Dukovany project implementation monitoring committee, regular meetings, and weekly meetings at the director level, to maintain trust in the normal progress of the nuclear project.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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