Cautious optimism is growing about the possibility of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) defeating its French competitor, EDF, in the bid for a 30 trillion won ($22 billion) project to build nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic, as the selection of the preferred bidder has become imminent, according to industry officials, Tuesday.
The Czech government will reportedly announce the winner Wednesday (local time) when it holds a Cabinet meeting on energy policies. If KHNP wins the bid, it will export Korean nuclear reactors for the first time since 2009, when it received an order to build the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the United Arab Emirates.
“Because the Korean consortium is superior to the French firm in terms of offering a lower price and high quality, as well as meeting the deadline, it is highly likely to win the order,” Hi Investment & Securities analyst Lee Sang-heon said.
“If it succeeds in winning the order from the Czech Republic, it will be able to export Korean nuclear reactors to Poland, the Netherlands and Romania.”
Ekonomicky Denik, a Czech news outlet, reported in May that a well-informed source gave a slightly higher chance to KHNP, saying that the Korean firm made an "offer that the Czech government cannot refuse" with a price bordering on dumping.
Another Czech media outlet, Britske listy, pointed out the French government-owned electric utility company’s close ties with Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy company.
“Nongovernmental organizations point to France’s dependence on the Russian nuclear industry,” Britske listy reported in May.
“EDF continues to use Russian uranium enrichment services.”
Kaynak: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2024/07/129_378765.html
