The South Korean government reviewed key milestones, including local permitting, to ensure the smooth execution of the Dukovany new nuclear power project in the Czech Republic. It also asked the Czech government to help ensure that the European Union's proposed Industrial Accelerator Act does not restrict Korean companies' access to the nuclear power market.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Minister Kim Jung-kwan held the third meeting of the Dukovany implementation review body with Czech Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlicek via video conference on the 20th. The body was launched early this year to allow the two governments, Czech project owner Elektrárna Dukovany II and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power to discuss ways to carry out the Dukovany project smoothly. This was the third meeting, following the second in June.
The two sides confirmed that the Dukovany project has been proceeding on schedule so far. They also reviewed timelines and plans for carrying out key procedures, such as filing for local permits in the Czech Republic, in a timely manner. Beyond Dukovany, they discussed ways to expand cooperation between the two countries' nuclear industries in the global market.
Responses to the EU's proposed Industrial Accelerator Act were also a main agenda item. Kim conveyed concerns that the bill, announced in March, is being discussed in a direction that excessively restricts participation by non-EU countries in the bloc's nuclear power market. He stressed that with the EU's nuclear supply chain weakened, cooperation with countries that have strong supply chains, such as Korea, is essential if Europe's nuclear construction plans are to proceed without disruption. He then urged diplomatic efforts by the Czech government to prevent the bill from undermining bilateral nuclear cooperation.
Kim also expressed a willingness to cooperate on additional nuclear construction projects in the Czech Republic. Referring to Temelin units 3 and 4, which the Czech government is weighing whether to pursue, he said, "Large reactors will be needed to support the development of the Czech Republic's advanced industries, and we hope the Korea-Czech nuclear partnership continues at Temelin units 3 and 4 following Dukovany." He added that holding the review body regularly is significant because it allows the two sides to share information transparently and jointly seek ways to advance and smoothly carry out bilateral nuclear cooperation.
The two countries agreed to hold the fourth meeting of the Dukovany implementation review body in Korea later this year. They also plan to organize business-to-business events to strengthen cooperation between the two countries' nuclear industries.