“We will now evaluate the bids and, in accordance with the contract with the state, we will submit the evaluation report to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and subsequently to the Government of the Czech Republic for final approval,” says Tomáš Pleskač, member of the Board of Directors and Director of ČEZ’ New Energy Division.

The bids were submitted electronically by means of special encryption and a uniquely secure storage.

It is expected that the contracts will be finalized during this year and ready for signing by 31 March 2025. The final signing of the contracts will be followed by a thorough preparation of design and planning documentation so as to meet the deadline for the start of the test operation of the new unit in 2036.

Public support for nuclear power development in the Czech Republic has been above 70 percent, which is uniquely high in Europe. This is based on a long-term survey by IBRS.

In parallel with the tender procedure, the wholly-owned subsidiary Elektrárna Dukovany II, a. s., (EDU II) has been working on other parts of the project. After the Ministry of the Environment issued a positive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in 2019, EDU II also received a Siting Permit from the State Office for Nuclear Safety and a Generating Plant Authorization from the Ministry of Industry and Trade in 2021. A non-final zoning decision was issued on 30 October 2023.