Czech Dukovany New Nuclear Project Scheduled to Break Ground in 2029

Preliminary work on the new nuclear power plant project at Dukovany, Czech Republic, continues to advance. According to information released by the Confederation of Industry and Transport of the Czech Republic (SP ČR), geological surveys at the project site have been completed, and the permitting process is underway with no major obstacles identified so far. Under the current schedule, main construction of the new nuclear power plant is set to begin in 2029.

Development of the local supply chain is also progressing in parallel. To date, Czech domestic companies have secured 17 tendered supply packages, though the total contract value has not yet been disclosed. Doosan Škoda Power has joined the project, and ČEZ Energetické projekty and Energoprojekt Praha have also entered the relevant design, engineering, and supply chain segments.

The purchaser is preparing to launch additional tenders for nuclear power plant technology and equipment. For the supply of specific components directly related to nuclear safety, companies are generally required to obtain certification from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Bidders that have not yet fully obtained certification at the time of registration may still meet the qualification requirements if they can demonstrate that the certification process has been initiated.

To alleviate the cost burden on domestic small and medium-sized enterprises entering the nuclear supply chain, the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO) is advancing a new subsidy program to support companies in obtaining ASME certification as well as ISO 19443 certification for nuclear supply chain quality management standards. The subsidy is funded under the "Operational Programme Technology and Competitiveness Applications" (OP TAK), with applications accepted from September 4, 2026 to February 1, 2027.

The consortium led by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) has previously proposed a 60% localization target. Under current arrangements, Doosan Škoda Power will be responsible for turbine supply, while some auxiliary equipment will be produced by local partners. If Czech SMEs can obtain the necessary certifications on schedule, the uncertainty in local procurement for the Korean main contractor will be correspondingly reduced.

The subsequent progress of the project still depends on the technical qualifications and certification advancement speed of Czech domestic companies. If relevant enterprises complete their certification applications in a concentrated manner before the subsidy application deadline in the first half of 2027 and pass the review smoothly, a relatively stable local supplier base can be established before the start of main construction in 2029. Conversely, if certification progress lags or technical standards are not met, the project may need to rely more on alternative procurement, thereby increasing logistics and procurement costs and impacting the construction schedule.