The Czech government signed agreements with ČEZ on Tuesday for a planned expansion of the majority state-owned utility’s Dukovany nuclear power station.
The agreements cover the overall general framework of the project and its initial phase, including a tender in which ČEZ will have a preferred list of reactor technology suppliers by 2022. The signing of a contract with a supplier is expected in 2024. Construction of the new plant could begin in 2029 and trial operation in 2036.
The state, which holds a 70% stake in ČEZ, last week approved plans to give an interest-free loan for the new plant.
It has also approved a model to buy electricity from the new unit at a determined price, with consumers making up the difference if that price is higher than wholesale market prices.
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