Local Suppliers to Play Significant Role in Czech Republic’s Nuclear Energy Future
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2024 – Westinghouse Electric Company, along with construction partner Bechtel, today signed a cooperation agreement with the Czech Power Industry Alliance. The agreement plays a critical role in leveraging the Czech Republic’s highly skilled nuclear industry in support of Westinghouse and Bechtel’s proposal to deploy AP1000 reactors in country.
The agreement establishes a working group to facilitate participation of Czech companies in the deployment of up to four AP1000® reactors at Dukovany and Temelin nuclear power plants. The selection of AP1000 technology in Poland, Bulgaria and Ukraine, as well as potential deployment of the AP300™ small modular reactor, creates additional opportunity for Czech suppliers across the region.
Ahmet Tokpinar (Bechtel), Elias Gedeon (Westinghouse), Josef Perlik (CPIA), Lukas Zednik (CPIA).
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, Dr. Kathryn Huff, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Michael Goff witnessed the MOU signing, showing the support of the U.S. Government for the Westinghouse – Bechtel team, as well as the Czech industry alliance, for the nuclear projects.
“We see the signing of this agreement as a very important step in the mutual cooperation of all parties involved. The working group’s efforts will ensure maximum involvement of the Czech industry in the construction of new nuclear power sources in the Czech Republic as a truly strategic partner of the AP1000 technology," said Josef Perlík, Alliance Executive Director.
“Our AP1000 projects benefit greatly from robust localization of critical manufacturing and services work. I expect that at least 70% of the work for this major project will go to Czech companies,” said David Durham, Energy Systems President, Westinghouse. “We are grateful for the partnership with CPIA, one that will pay dividends to the Czech Republic for generations.”
“For over 70 years, Bechtel has been at the forefront of delivering state-of-the-art nuclear power technologies,” said John Howanitz, President of Bechtel’s Nuclear, Security and Environmental business unit. “We know that the most successful projects include partnering at the local level and maximizing the capacity and capabilities of local suppliers to help our partners achieve their clean energy goals. We look forward to working with CPIA to help us continue to identify potential local suppliers and subcontractors to partner with to deliver energy security to the Czech Republic.”
The CPIA brings together the largest nuclear energy technology companies in the Czech Republic. Its mission is to coordinate strategic interests, key partnerships and cooperation of member companies with partners including ministries and state regulatory authorities.
The AP1000 is the only operating Generation III+ reactor with fully passive safety systems, modular construction design and the smallest footprint per MWe on the market. In the U.S., at the Vogtle site in Georgia, one AP1000 unit achieved commercial operation in July and is producing power for the grid while a second unit is expected to achieve commercial operation in the months ahead. Four AP1000 reactors are currently setting operational performance and availability records in China with eight additional reactors under construction there. The technology is also under consideration at multiple sites in Central and Eastern Europe, the United Kingdom, and in North America.
