Czech PM Fiala: we will need as many as four new nuclear power units (updated)
01/09/2023 09:27
(Adds details)
PRAGUE, Sept 1 (Reuters) - The Czech Republic will need
as many as four new nuclear power units in addition to
shorter-term need for new renewable and gas-fired power
stations, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said in a speech on economic
policy on Friday.
Majority state-owned electricity producer CEZ CEZP.PR
expects bids for one new unit by the end of September, but Fiala
said more nuclear capacity was needed in the longer term.
He said the outlook for retirement of coal power plants -
which make up about 40% of Czech output - in the coming years
meant the country also needed to boost shorter-term investments
into renewable resources, conversion of heating plants to gas,
building new gas-fired power plants and boosting power lines to
raise capacity for interconnection with neighbouring Germany.
CEZ has also been developing plans for building small
modular nuclear reactors.
Fiala also said a lithium mining project at Cinovec, near
the border with Germany, led by CEZ and European Metals Holdings
EMHE.L should start ideally by 2026.
CEZ has said it would decide by the end of the year whether
to go ahead with the project, but indicated that it looked
likely given the outlook for demand for lithium, used in
batteries.
(Reporting by Jan Lopatka; Editing by Alex Richardson)
((jan.lopatka@thomsonreuters.com; +420 234 721 614; Reuters
Messaging: jan.lopatka.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))