AFP news agency and others reported that the Czech anti-monopoly watchdog authorities temporarily suspended the contract for a new nuclear power plant construction project between the country's government and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power on the 30th (local time).

An official from the Czech Antitrust Office (UOHS) told AFP, “We made a preemptive decision after accepting objections from Electric Power France (EDF) and Westinghouse.” The official continued, “This is not a suggestion as to how this issue will be decided.”

Czech Electricity Corporation (CEZ), which ordered the project, told Reuters, “We are confident that we have complied with relevant laws from the time we selected the preferred bidder.”

The Czech government selected Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Corporation as the preferred negotiating party for the additional construction project for the Dukovany nuclear power plant last July and decided to sign a final contract by March of next year. Accordingly, American companies Westinghouse and EDF, which were eliminated from the bidding competition, each filed objections with the Czech antitrust authorities after being selected as the preferred bidder. Westinghouse claimed that KHNP used its patented reactor design technology and that third parties could not use this technology without the company's permission.

Previously, the government announced in July that Korea had won an order for a new nuclear power plant project in the Czech Republic worth 24 trillion won. It is the largest nuclear power plant export in history and an achievement achieved 15 years after winning the order for the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2009.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said, “Because the Czech competition authorities have received the complaint, we have taken preliminary measures in accordance with standard procedures,” and added, “The government plans to explain our position in detail if requested by the Czech authorities.”

At the ‘Shin-Hanul Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 and 2 Comprehensive Completion Ceremony and Units 3 and 4 Groundbreaking Ceremony’ held in Uljin, Gyeongsangbuk-do on this day, President Yoon Seok-yeol said, “I and the government will use the Czech nuclear power plant order as a stepping stone to further open the export path for our nuclear power industry.” He said, “I will take care of everything to ensure that the main contract for the Czech nuclear power plant next year is successfully concluded.”

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