The Czech Power Industry Alliance (CPIA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with its French counterpart GIFEN, during the first-ever Czech-French Nuclear Industry Summit organised in Pilsen in early December.
The goal of the event was to support industrial cooperation between the two countries and their companies, not only in the light of the planned construction of the fifth unit at the Dukovany power plant but of the additional nuclear units in Dukovany, two units at Temelin as well as in small modular reactor (SMR) development.
“France will build six new EPR nuclear reactors with the first one to be commissioned by 2035,” commented His Excellence Alexis Dutertre, ambassador of France to the Czech Republic. “Then eight more reactors shall be considered. This naturally brings business opportunities for Czech companies.”
French company EDF, one of the Dukovany 5 bidders, used the opportunity in Pilsen to sign memorandums of cooperation with Czech companies that could be involved in the Dukovany 5 project: ABO Valve, Elektro Kroměříž, OSC and Vítkovice Energetické strojírenství.
Sarah Illouz, Head of EDF’s Dukovany 5 EPR1200 offer, stated that EDF has more than 40 years of experience in successfully implementing its localisation process.
“In the Dukovany 5 project our goal is to unlock maximal value and long-term engagement with Czech Industry,” she stressed. “When building the EPR reactor at UK´s Hinkley Point C, 64 per cent of the value remains with UK-based businesses. There is potential to reach high local content for the Czech nuclear new build project.”
EDF further emphasised that its localisation approach also integrates potential opportunities for the Czech companies beyond Dukovany 5, including participation in the French and European EPR nuclear programmes.
