13 Dec (NucNet): The Czech Republic should choose a specific technology for new nuclear reactors by 2020 so that permits can be approved by 2025 and construction can be completed before 2035, the International Energy Agency says in a report published today. The report, ‘Energy Policies of IEA Countries: Czech Republic,’ says this process should involve a detailed analysis of the roles of the government and nuclear plant operators. The state energy policy (SEP), approved by the Czech government in 2015, anticipates one new unit at the existing Dukovany nuclear site and possibly three more at Dukovany and the country’s other nuclear site, Temelin. According to the IEA, the SEP recommends that utility ČEZ create a subsidiary company to prepare construction plans and explore options for financing the new build, even though the first might not be approved until 2025. There are three construction organisation options: plants would be built by ČEZ or a wholly owned subsidiary of ČEZ; plants would be built by international consortiums, with or without ČEZ participation; or the Czech ministries would form a state-owned enterprise to build the plants, then lease or sell them to ČEZ. To ensure local content, the government would prefer ČEZ as a favoured investor. Whoever builds the units, they must secure financing of approximately €4.5bn to €5.4bn ($4.7bn to $5.7bn), with allowance for a second unit at each site, the IEA report says. The feasibility study for a new reactor at Dukovany is in progress, and ČEZ is preparing for an environmental assessment at the site. The report says nuclear is expected to become the main source of electricity production with its share rising from 32.5% in 2014 to between 46% and 58% in 2040. The Czech Republic has six commercially operational reactor units: four VVER-440 units at the Dukovany site and two VVER-1000 units at Temelín. Recent media reports said six companies have shown interest in building nuclear reactors in the Czech Republic, but a decision to proceed with construction will probably come after elections in October 2017. The IEA report is online: http://bit.ly/2gDlu6W
