Turbulence in Czech energy sector as Temelín tender attracts controversy
The largest public tender in the Czech Republic’s history descended into turmoil late in 2012, when Areva appealed its exclusion from the contest to be selected to build the two new reactors at the Temelín nuclear plant.
The October 29 decision to remove Areva from the $10 billion project is now being looked at by the Czech Office for the Protection of Competition, which says no decision can be made on the tender until it has completed its investigation.
It capped a turbulent period during which Areva complained of an “absolute lack of dialogue” with ČEZ, the Czech utility that runs Temelín. ČEZ decided that only Westinghouse of the United States and a Russian-led consortium that includes Atomstroyexport could continue in the tender to build reactors three and four.
Read the full story in The Prague Post.
(US secretary of state Hillary Clinton visited Prague earlier in December to boost the profile of Westinghouse’s bid, meeting with Czech prime minister Petr Nečas, pictured. Photo: State Department via flickr.com)
