Recently, the Czech cabinet adopted a national climate and energy plan. The plan points out that by 2050, the Czech nuclear power installed capacity will increase from the current 4.3GW (4.3 million kilowatts) to 5.9GW (5.9 million kilowatts).

The plan is intended to help the Czech Republic achieve EU carbon emission reduction targets, but the document still needs approval from the European Commission before it can finally take effect. Approval is expected to be completed by mid-2024.

The newly added nuclear power installed capacity will mainly come from three 1.1 GWe nuclear power units, namely Dukovany Unit 5 and Temelin Units 3 and 4. Among them, Dukovany Unit 5 is undergoing bidding for major technology suppliers and is expected to be completed before 2036; Temelin Unit 3 and Unit 4 are scheduled to be completed in 2039 and 2041 respectively.

In addition, the plan also assumes that a 350 MWe medium-sized nuclear power unit will be built by 2050, but the site has not yet been determined.

The plan emphasizes that after 2047, the Dukovani nuclear power plant must have at least two units in operation. The four VVER-440 units currently in operation at the power plant are planned to be shut down between 2045 and 2047, when these units will reach their 60-year operating life. The two VVER-1000 units at the Taimelin site are expected to operate until 2060 and 2062.

On February 27, 2023, the Czech CEZ Electric Power Company stated that the company has listed Dukovani and 6 coal-fired power plant sites as potential options for future small reactor (SMR) projects. CEZ plans to build its first small reactor pilot project at the Taimelin site in 2032. Editor/Xu Shengpeng