popular articles

EDF and Westinghouse contest award of Czech nuclear project to KHNP

EDF and Westinghouse lodge appeals against the Czech Republic's award of the nuclear reactor project to Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), citing intellectual property violations and procedural irregularities.

Please share:

The Czech Office for Competition (UOHS) has received appeals from EDF and Westinghouse following the award of the contract to build two nuclear reactors at the Dukovany power plant.
The project, initiated by the CEZ group, aims to strengthen the country’s energy independence by increasing its nuclear capacity. South Korea’s Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) won the tender in July 2024, a decision that prompted immediate reactions from its competitors.
EDF and Westinghouse, eliminated during the selection process, raise concerns about the integrity of the procedure.
They allege irregularities, in particular concerning KHNP’s use of technologies licensed from Westinghouse.
Both companies question the legitimacy of the tender, pointing to a lack of transparency and potential violations of intellectual property rules.

Charges brought against KHNP

Westinghouse accuses KHNP of incorporating proprietary technologies into its bid, without the necessary approval for their use.
The APR1000 and APR1400 reactors proposed by KHNP are said to be based on technologies developed under license from Westinghouse, raising questions about the validity of the bid submitted.
This accusation is at the heart of the appeal lodged with the UOHS, and could call into question the decision to award the contract.
EDF, which has also lodged an appeal, questions the selection process, pointing to irregularities in the tender procedure.
Although the details of its appeal are not yet public, EDF’s involvement adds weight to the challenge, reinforcing the idea that the procedure may have been biased.

Potential impact on the project

The appeals lodged by EDF and Westinghouse could have far-reaching consequences for the Dukovany project.
If the UOHS finds the complaints to be well-founded, this could lead to a suspension or reconsideration of the contract award, thereby delaying the project’s implementation.
Such a decision would affect not only KHNP, but also the energy ambitions of the Czech Republic, which depends on this project to achieve its energy diversification objectives.
This situation also highlights the challenges faced by companies operating in the nuclear sector, where issues of intellectual property and compliance with regulatory procedures are increasingly crucial.
The fallout from this case could have repercussions on future relations between companies and governments in international tenders, particularly in the highly sensitive field of nuclear energy.

Register free of charge for uninterrupted access.

Publicite

Recently published in

Energy group Enel partners with Ansaldo and Leonardo to form Nuclitalia, a joint venture focused on developing small modular reactor technologies as Italy considers a return to civilian nuclear power.
US-based Space Nuclear Power Corporation has been selected to design a fission reactor for nuclear electric propulsion in future military and civilian spacecraft.
US-based Space Nuclear Power Corporation has been selected to design a fission reactor for nuclear electric propulsion in future military and civilian spacecraft.
The small modular reactor (SMR) pipeline increased by 42% in Q1 2025, reaching 47 GW, driven by the growing demand from data centres, according to a report from Wood Mackenzie.
The small modular reactor (SMR) pipeline increased by 42% in Q1 2025, reaching 47 GW, driven by the growing demand from data centres, according to a report from Wood Mackenzie.
EDF and Siparex are mobilising a new €300 million investment fund to strengthen strategic companies in the nuclear supply chain amid industrial revival driven by the EPR2 reactor programme.
EDF and Siparex are mobilising a new €300 million investment fund to strengthen strategic companies in the nuclear supply chain amid industrial revival driven by the EPR2 reactor programme.
Aecon Kiewit Nuclear Partners will lead construction of North America’s first grid-scale small modular reactor, with commercial operation expected in 2030.
Russia and Vietnam have signed a nuclear roadmap aimed at strengthening technological cooperation, including a commercial nuclear plant and a scientific centre by 2030.
Russia and Vietnam have signed a nuclear roadmap aimed at strengthening technological cooperation, including a commercial nuclear plant and a scientific centre by 2030.
The French National Agency for Radioactive Waste Management has revised upward its evaluation of the Cigéo underground storage project, with a maximum potential cost of €37.5bn ($40.4bn) over 150 years.
The French National Agency for Radioactive Waste Management has revised upward its evaluation of the Cigéo underground storage project, with a maximum potential cost of €37.5bn ($40.4bn) over 150 years.
The European Commission has requested Prague to suspend the award of a CZK200bn contract to KHNP, citing suspicions of state aid that may breach European law.
The European Commission has requested Prague to suspend the award of a CZK200bn contract to KHNP, citing suspicions of state aid that may breach European law.
Czech justice has suspended the signing of a major contract between Prague and South Korea’s KHNP, following a complaint by French group EDF challenging the fairness of the Dukovany nuclear project tender.
Thanks to recent strategic agreements, Utah is establishing itself as a key regional hub for the development and production of Small Modular Reactors, boosting a rapidly growing industry at the heart of the United States.
Thanks to recent strategic agreements, Utah is establishing itself as a key regional hub for the development and production of Small Modular Reactors, boosting a rapidly growing industry at the heart of the United States.
The United States is multiplying energy agreements with Romania and Bulgaria, focusing on civil nuclear power and hydropower storage to deepen its influence in strategic regional projects.
The United States is multiplying energy agreements with Romania and Bulgaria, focusing on civil nuclear power and hydropower storage to deepen its influence in strategic regional projects.
U.S.-based Energy Fuels extracted 151,400 pounds of uranium in April, reaching an unprecedented level since the opening of its Pinyon Plain mine, while underground drilling reveals exceptionally high grades.
U.S.-based Energy Fuels extracted 151,400 pounds of uranium in April, reaching an unprecedented level since the opening of its Pinyon Plain mine, while underground drilling reveals exceptionally high grades.
The Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ASNR) will now publish its decisions and expert reports simultaneously, amid a controversial merger of nuclear oversight bodies.
The French Parliament has approved Bernard Fontana's appointment as CEO of EDF, paving the way for a new industrial phase in the nuclear sector under close scrutiny from public and industrial stakeholders.
The French Parliament has approved Bernard Fontana's appointment as CEO of EDF, paving the way for a new industrial phase in the nuclear sector under close scrutiny from public and industrial stakeholders.
Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe signed a new agreement with the Westinghouse-Bechtel consortium to ensure the continuity of the development of Poland’s first nuclear power plant project.
Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe signed a new agreement with the Westinghouse-Bechtel consortium to ensure the continuity of the development of Poland’s first nuclear power plant project.
Two French MPs have raised concerns over the massive cost overruns of the Hinkley Point nuclear project, describing it as a “financial sinkhole” for EDF, now fully owned by the State.
Two French MPs have raised concerns over the massive cost overruns of the Hinkley Point nuclear project, describing it as a “financial sinkhole” for EDF, now fully owned by the State.
The Chinese State Council has just authorized the construction of ten new nuclear reactors across five strategic sites, highlighting a massive acceleration in energy ambitions to achieve record installed capacity by 2025.
Axpo reconnected unit 1 of the Beznau nuclear power plant to the grid after two weeks of refuelling, marking the start of a new operating cycle for the Swiss facility.
Axpo reconnected unit 1 of the Beznau nuclear power plant to the grid after two weeks of refuelling, marking the start of a new operating cycle for the Swiss facility.
The Czech competition regulator has dismissed EDF’s appeal, confirming the selection of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power for the construction of new nuclear capacity at Dukovany.
The Czech competition regulator has dismissed EDF’s appeal, confirming the selection of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power for the construction of new nuclear capacity at Dukovany.
Trondheimsleia Kjernekraft AS was founded to lead a nuclear plant project based on several small modular reactors in the Trøndelag region, targeting up to 1500 MWe of installed capacity.
Trondheimsleia Kjernekraft AS was founded to lead a nuclear plant project based on several small modular reactors in the Trøndelag region, targeting up to 1500 MWe of installed capacity.
Japanese operator Tepco has completed the extraction of a second radioactive debris sample from the damaged Fukushima reactor, a critical technical step in a decommissioning project set to span several decades.
US-based enCore Energy continues to optimise its uranium project in Texas with a record installation rate and strengthened leadership team.
US-based enCore Energy continues to optimise its uranium project in Texas with a record installation rate and strengthened leadership team.
Framatome has commissioned a new facility in Romans-sur-Isère to secure long-term production of research reactor fuels and medical isotopes.
Framatome has commissioned a new facility in Romans-sur-Isère to secure long-term production of research reactor fuels and medical isotopes.
EDF reconnected the Flamanville EPR nuclear reactor to the power grid on 19 April, two days ahead of schedule, following a series of technical maintenance works and adjustments on critical components.
EDF reconnected the Flamanville EPR nuclear reactor to the power grid on 19 April, two days ahead of schedule, following a series of technical maintenance works and adjustments on critical components.

Advertising