Czech watchdog rejects appeals in nuclear power tender (updated)

Korea Electric Power

31/10/2024 13:43

(Adds detail on decision, background)
       PRAGUE, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The Czech anti-monopoly
office UOHS on Thursday rejected appeals by Westinghouse and EDF
against a tender that chose South Korea's KHNP as preferred
bidder to build new nuclear power units in the Czech Republic.
    UOHS said it had either stopped proceedings in some appeals
or rejected proposals brought by U.S. group Westinghouse and
France's EDF, which had both challenged the tender run by a unit
of state-controlled utility CEZ  CEZP.PR . 
    UOHS said the parties could still appeal the office's
decisions, which were not final.
    The Czechs plan to use the new nuclear power units, together
with small modular reactors and renewable sources, to replace a
fleet of coal-fired plants as well as some older nuclear
reactors that are nearing the end of their lifespan.
    On Wednesday UOHS had put a temporary block on the
conclusion of a contract with KHNP following the challenges by
Westinghouse and EDF. That block remains in effect until the
office's decision comes into force, UOHS said on Thursday.
        Part of Westinghouse's objections had focused on usage
of a national security exception that suspended public
procurement rules. UOHS said it terminated the appeal
proceedings in this matter as the company should have filed
objections immediately after learning of the procedure more than
two years ago.
    Other parts of the appeals were also terminated.
        UOHS had started proceedings in September. CEZ has said
the appeals would not delay the tender's timeframe, under which
it seeks to conclude a contract with KHNP by next March.
    The project, which is expected to be the country's
largest-ever energy procurement deal, estimates completion of
the first reactor by 2036.


 (Reporting by Jason Hovet; Editing by Susan Fenton)
 ((jason.hovet@thomsonreuters.com;))