본 기사는 https://www.idnes.cz/ekonomika/domaci/daniel-benes-cez.A250520_131027_ekonomika_ven에서 발췌, 번역본입니다. 

Q: 브르노 지방 법원이 새로운 듀코바니 원전 계약 체결을 금지하는 가처분 결정을 내렸습니다. 이에 항소하셨나요?
A: 우리는 한국 KHNP(한국수력원자력)의 입찰이 가장 우수했다고 확신합니다. 투명하고 공정한 입찰 과정을 거쳐, 최종 전력 단가는 메가와트시(MWh)당 90유로 이하로 정해졌습니다. 이는 영국의 힝클리포인트 원전(EDF 기준 약 150유로)과 비교하면 매우 경쟁력 있는 가격입니다. 우리는 법원의 결정을 존중하지만, 듀코바니 프로젝트는 국가 에너지 안보와 직결된 전략적으로 매우 중요한 사업입니다. 우리는 5월 19일 대법원에 항소를 제기했습니다.

Q: 가처분 결정이 프로젝트 일정이나 비용에 영향을 미치나요?
A: 물론입니다. 지연이 길어질수록 손해는 커집니다. 현재 월 5억 체코 코루나(약 300억 원)의 손실이 발생하고 있습니다. 주요 계약을 체결하지 못하면 프로젝트 일정도 그만큼 늦어지고, 이는 국가 에너지 수급에 위협이 됩니다. 2036년 말까지 새로운 무탄소 에너지 공급원이 없을 수도 있습니다. 이는 체코 전체 전력 소비의 약 15%에 해당합니다.

Q: 현재 원전 건설은 완전히 중단된 상태인가요?
A: 아닙니다. 우리는 여전히 준비 작업을 계속하고 있으며, 이미 첫 번째 체코 기업들과 하청 계약도 체결했습니다. 이 계약은 가처분 결정이 내려진 이후에도 체결되었으며, 한국 측 역시 사업이 추진될 것이라고 확신하고 있다는 뜻입니다.

Q: EDF는 자신들의 입찰이 KHNP와 큰 차이가 없다고 주장하는데요.
A: 그렇다면 EDF는 자신들의 입찰 내용을 공개하면 됩니다. 우리는 기밀 문제로 공개할 수 없지만, 프랑스 측은 공개할 수 있습니다. 자신들의 제안이 더 낫다고 생각한다면, 투명하게 공개해 판단을 맡기면 됩니다. 하지만 지금까지는 로비와 법적 대응에만 집중하고 있습니다.

Q: 입찰 절차는 어떻게 진행되었나요?
A: 우리는 10년간 이 프로젝트를 준비해 왔습니다. 2015년부터 환경영향평가를 비롯한 각종 절차를 밟아 2022년 입찰을 시작했고, 최종적으로 EDF와 KHNP 두 곳이 최종 후보가 되었습니다. 작년 7월 정부는 KHNP를 우선 협상대상자로 선정했습니다. 2024년 4월에는 재원 조달 방안도 확정됐습니다.

Q: 유럽연합 집행위원회의 부위원장(프랑스 출신)이 계약 서명을 연기하라고 요청했습니다. 이건 구속력이 있나요?
A: 공식적으로는 법적 구속력이 없다는 점이 확인되었습니다. 그러나 이해 충돌 문제가 있습니다. 체코와 프랑스의 분쟁에 프랑스 출신 유럽위원이 개입한다는 건 공정성에 문제가 있습니다. 이는 체코-프랑스 축구 결승전에서 프랑스 심판이 나오는 것과 같습니다.

Q: EDF는 충분한 정보 공유가 없었다고 주장합니다.
A: 사실이 아닙니다. 고위급 회의도 여러 차례 열렸고, 입찰 평가 기준과 부족한 부분을 명확히 전달했습니다. EDF는 자신들이 선두 주자가 아니란 걸 이해했고, 이후에도 제안서를 거의 수정하지 않았습니다. 우리는 절차에 따라 결과를 전달했고, EDF도 이를 통보받았습니다.

Q: 체코 기업들의 참여율(60%)은 지연으로 영향을 받을까요?
A: 그럴 가능성은 낮습니다. 이미 12개 체코 업체와 계약을 체결했고, 이 중 두산스코다파워는 터빈 공급을 맡게 됩니다. 전체 계약의 20%에 해당합니다. 한국 측은 60% 이상 체코 기업 참여를 약속하고 있습니다.

Q: 듀코바니 원전이 건설되지 못할 경우, 소형 모듈 원자로(SMR)로 대체 가능한가요?
A: 불가능합니다. 대형 원전은 필수입니다. SMR은 보완적인 수단이지 대체재가 아닙니다. 향후 전력 수요는 탈탄소화로 인해 증가할 전망이며, 듀코바니 5·6호기는 기존 설비를 대체하기 위한 것입니다.

Q: SMR 계획은 어떻게 진행되고 있나요?
A: 기존 석탄화력발전소 부지를 활용할 계획입니다. 특히 투시미체(Tušimice)는 유망 부지이며, 영국 롤스로이스 SMR 기술 도입을 고려 중입니다. 우리는 이 회사에 약 20%의 지분을 투자해 유럽과 전 세계에서 SMR 사업을 함께할 계획입니다. SMR은 전기뿐만 아니라 난방 공급도 가능해 중요합니다.

Q: 자체 전력이 부족할 경우, 수입으로 대체할 수는 없나요?
A: 수입에 의존해서는 안 됩니다. 이웃 국가들도 전력 여유가 없을 수 있고, 수입은 가격 상승을 초래할 수 있습니다. 또한, 국경 간 전력 전송 능력에도 한계가 있습니다.

Q: 향후 ČEZ의 에너지 믹스는 어떻게 변화하나요?
A: 2033년까지 석탄 발전을 중단할 예정입니다. 이를 대신해 가스, 복합 가스 발전소, 재생에너지 등을 구축하고 있습니다. 총 1.5GW 규모의 가스 발전소 계획이 있으며, 2030년대 초 도입을 목표로 하고 있습니다.

Q: 필요한 자금은 어디서 조달하나요?
A: 탈석탄과 신규 발전소 건설에는 막대한 투자가 필요합니다. 그래서 정부와 협력하고 있으며, 듀코바니 프로젝트를 추진하는 자회사 ‘Elektrárna Dukovany II’의 80% 지분을 국가가 인수했습니다. 이는 ČEZ의 재무 안정성과 국가 에너지 안보를 동시에 확보하기 위한 조치입니다. 2025~2030년 사이에 약 4천억 체코 코루나(약 24조 원)를 투자할 계획입니다.

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The final decision on Dukovany cannot be made by a Frenchman, says ČEZ CEO Daniel Beneš
In May, the Regional Court in Brno issued a preliminary injunction blocking the signing of the contract for the construction of new nuclear reactors in Dukovany. Have you filed an appeal against the decision?
We are confident that we made the right choice and insist that the bid from South Korea's KHNP was the best. Thanks to a transparent and fair tender, we achieved a final price of less than €90 per megawatt hour. Compared to other current nuclear projects, this is an excellent result and the lowest price. In the case of Hinkley Point in the UK, for example, EDF is at almost €150 per megawatt hour. This also proves that the selected bid was very good and that the tender process was correct. We respect the court's decision. However, I must emphasize the enormous strategic importance of building new units in Dukovany. I cannot imagine another contract with a higher public interest.
So why does the second bidder in the ranking not want to accept the result of the tender?
That is a question for EDF. I believe that it wants to prevent any power plant other than a French one from being built in Europe at any cost, which would be unfortunate for many reasons. Not least because it is never good to have a single supplier dominating the market. This usually leads to higher prices, not to mention other negative effects. However, I can confirm that on Monday, May 19, we filed an appeal with the Supreme Administrative Court against the decision of the Regional Court in Brno. I believe that the appeal will be dealt with without delay so that we can continue with the project.
What does the preliminary measure issued by the court in Brno mean for the project? Will it delay it and make it more expensive?
It has a negative impact on both the schedule and the overall price. The deliberate delay of the project is causing considerable damage, and we will seek compensation from those responsible. It will depend on a number of circumstances, including how quickly the Supreme Administrative Court rules on our appeal against the preliminary injunction. At this point, the damage amounts to CZK 500 million per month. Unfortunately, the longer the signing of contracts with the Korean supplier is delayed, the longer the completion date will be delayed. However, we must build new sources. It is essential for maintaining the Czech Republic's energy security and self-sufficiency. And now there is a real threat that at the end of 2036, Czech households and industry will not have a new significant source of emission-free energy at their disposal. It should cover approximately 15 percent of Czech consumption. That is a high figure, which underlines the importance of the project.
What is happening now with the construction of the new units? Has it come to a complete standstill?
We are continuing to work and are not waiting for anything. We believe that the court will uphold our complaint. We are convinced that there is no reason to question the selection of the supplier in any way. If the delay is longer, the experts who are supposed to participate in the project will not have professional employment with us and may start looking for work elsewhere. But so far, everything is running smoothly. This is evidenced by the contracts already signed with the first Czech companies. They were ceremoniously signed on May 7, when we originally wanted to sign the main contract with KHNP. The fact that the Korean side was willing to sign subcontracts with its Czech counterparts even after the preliminary injunction was issued, which prevented us from signing the main contract, proves that both we and the Korean company are counting on the new nuclear power plant being built.
EDF claims that when everything is assessed in detail, there is no significant difference between its offer and that of KHNP.
We have therefore called on EDF to publish its offer immediately. We cannot do so due to confidentiality, but the French can. Let them show their cards and everyone can judge for themselves whether their offer is better than the one we chose after years of hard work. So far, they have been doing the opposite, spending money on lobbying, PR, and lawyers.
Can you describe what preceded the planned signing of the contract?
We have ten years of intensive work behind us. I will mention at least the important milestones. Back in 2015, following the State Energy Concept and the National Action Plan, we established EDU I and began working on everything necessary to prepare such a large-scale project, such as the documentation for obtaining a positive environmental impact assessment, which was granted in 2019. We also prepared a preliminary investigation for the EU, requested documentation, and worked on the documentation for the location permit and production authorization. In July 2020, we signed contracts with the state. This enabled BEZ and EDU I to begin cooperation on the first phase of the project. We launched the tender in March 2022, when we first received initial bids from three bidders and then, based on the Interim Evaluation Report, final bids from two bidders. These were submitted by EDF and KHNP. Last July, the state decided that KHNP was the preferred bidder. In April this year, the final method of financing the two units was decided. We were now about to sign a contract with KHNP, which had submitted the best bid in the tender.
The European Commission has now also become involved in the construction of the Dukovany units. Its Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné has sent a letter to the Czech government and to you requesting a postponement of the signing of the contract. How binding is this request and what do you think about the fact that the Czech Republic's dispute with the French company EDF is being resolved by a Frenchman?
A spokesperson for the European Commission has confirmed that the letter from the Vice-President of the European Commission is not legally binding. I don't want to get into politics. But if there is a disagreement between two member states and a commissioner from one of those countries raises this issue at the European level, then that's not good for the perception of balance, equal conditions, and treatment. Can you imagine a French or Czech referee officiating in a final between the Czech Republic and France? Certainly not. This is comparable.
EDF also complained that ČEZ did not discuss the tender with it and that it was not sufficiently informed.
I must reject this. Several meetings were held at the highest level on both sides. We clearly communicated to EDF where we saw room for improvement in their bid and where it was specifically lacking. They left the meeting with a clear message that they understood they were not the front runner. Unfortunately, even after two or three rounds of discussions, EDF made almost no changes to its final bid. We clearly stated that once the final bid had been submitted, all that remained was the evaluation. EDF was duly informed of the outcome of the tender procedure, exactly as specified in the rules.
Could the delay affect the Czech industry's share in the completion of the project? It is supposed to be around 60 percent.
I do not think that any delay should affect this ratio. The involvement of Czech companies in the construction is one of the important points for us and was part of the negotiations with the bidders for the construction. The first contracts with Czech companies have already been signed. These are 12 contracts, on the basis of which the Czech share of the contract already amounts to almost 30 percent. I can mention the traditional Pilsen-based Doosan Škoda Power, which will supply the turbine and turbine hall to Dukovany, i.e., 20 percent of the contract. The commitment to a 60 percent share for Czech industry is realistic, and the Korean side is willing to fulfill it.
What if the new large nuclear power plant is not built after all? Can it be replaced by small modular reactors, which you also want to build?
I do not see this option as likely, or even possible. We really need new nuclear sources. According to expert predictions, electricity consumption will grow hand in hand with decarbonization. Moreover, the new Dukovany units do not represent an increase in the capacity of Czech power plants in the future, but will only replace sources that will have to be shut down by then – including the current Dukovany units. So we not only have to build Dukovany 5 and 6, but also urgently prepare and, ideally, start building other sources. We are counting on small modular reactors (SMRs), which are not a replacement for large power plants, but rather a supplement to them.
Do you already have a specific location or potential supplier for them?
We consider the sites of existing coal-fired power plants to be suitable for SMRs. Among the most promising is Tušimice in the Chomutov region, where modular reactors from our strategic partner, the British company Rolls-Royce SMR, could be used. This year, we acquired a stake in the British developer of small modular reactors, which will gradually reach approximately 20 percent. We want to cooperate with them on the development of SMRs not only in the Czech Republic, but also in Europe and around the world. In new locations, modular reactors will become not only a reliable and safe source of electricity, but also heat. This will enable us to continue supplying heat for district heating systems in cities, which is important. So, modular reactors yes, but not instead of large nuclear units. We need to develop both, supplemented by a number of renewable sources.
What if the Czech Republic does not have enough of its own resources to cover its electricity consumption? Can't we rely on imports from neighboring countries?
Having sufficient reliable energy sources of our own is a fundamental pillar of energy security. We cannot rely on imports from abroad. We have no certainty about what our neighbors' situation will be in the future and whether they will even have enough electricity to export. We must build our own sources. Most of the sources we use today will be phased out in the coming decades. By 2050, we will only have Temelín and hydroelectric power plants left. We must replace all the others. Relying on imports could also have a negative impact on prices for end customers, and cross-border capacities for electricity imports are very limited.
What is the future of other energy sources in ČEZ's production mix?
We are already working hard to replace coal-fired power plants, which will cease operations by 2033. This is not just about electricity, but also heat. That is why ČEZ is building new gas and combined cycle gas turbine power plants, renewable energy sources, and preparing projects for combined cycle gas turbine power plants. Projects for more than 1.5 GW of gas-fired power plants are in the pipeline. They could be commissioned in the early 2030s. We are mainly waiting for the necessary legislation to be finalized so that they are ready to participate in capacity auctions.
How big are the investments in new sources you are expecting, and where will you get the money?
Investments in decarbonizing the Czech energy sector and building new sources are enormous. In order to manage everything, the state must be involved. In the case of the new units in Dukovany, we have reached an important agreement with the Czech state. ČEZ sold an 80% stake in Elektrárna Dukovany II, the company implementing the project, to the state. Direct state involvement is not only logical but also necessary in order to maintain the financial stability of both the project and ČEZ in the future. The ČEZ Group is also making significant investments in the Czech energy sector in connection with the phase-out of coal. Planned investments for 2025–2030 exceed CZK 400 billion.
https://www.idnes.cz/ekonomika/domaci/daniel-benes-cez.A250520_131027_ekonomika_ven