The deal is crucial for the EU member country of 10.9 million people, relying on nuclear power produced by the southern Dukovany and Temelin plants for 40 percent of its electricity consumption.
Prague expects construction to begin in 2029 and the first new reactor launched in trial operation in 2036.
EDF delayed the deal by months as it questioned the transparency of the tender in a complaint at the Czech antitrust office and later in court.
But EDF has also contested alleged state support for KHNP, illegal in the EU, in a complaint to the European Commission.
“The European Commission is investigating the Korean bid. The Czech government knows about it... and yet it has signed,“ Barton said, labelling the Czech side’s decision to sign as “most daring”.
‘Several potential risks’
“A Czech consumer would be happy to have electricity subsidised by a foreign country, but the European Union forbids this,“ Barton said.
A day after the signature, Czech Industry and Trade Minister Lukas Vlcek told Czech Radio there were “several potential risks” to the deal.
He added however that the EDF complaints cannot affect the contract between Prague and KHNP, which “is simply valid”.
But Jiri Gavor, who leads the Association of Independent Energy Suppliers, voiced doubts.
He said the EU probe posed a much bigger threat than the Czech court dealings which will hardly overthrow the signature.
“I don’t dare estimate the legal impact on the project. I think it will constitute a rather complex legal problem. And certainly a most unpleasant one,“ said Gavor.
The EU has already approved this, but the government then changed the financing model and has had to ask for the permit again.
“And it’s not certain if they will get it, especially as the Korean bid is under scrutiny. And you can’t pay for the construction without a notification and you can’t expect the Koreans to build it for free,“ Barton said.
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