Czech Minister of Industry & Trade Lukáš Vlček, during a visit to Brno, said the South Moravian Region and the Vysočina Region, will be most affected by the construction of a new nuclear power units in Dukovany, the largest investment in the history of the Czech Republic.
Currently the four VVER-440 units at the Dukovany NPP and the two VVER-1000 units in operation at Temelín NPP provide about a third of The Czech Republic’s electricity In July 2024, a South Korean consortium led by the state-run KHNP was selected as the preferred bidder for the construction of up to four new NPP units at the Dukovany and Temelín sites, with two reactors (units 5&6) confirmed for Dukovany. The total project cost is estimated by the Czech Republic to be approximately CZK200bn ($8.85bn) per unit. The Czech Republic and KHNP plan to finalise the contract in 2025, aiming for the completion of the first reactor by 2036.
The expected impacts on various aspects of the region were identified by the Dukovany 2024 Socio-Economic Study, which Vlček presented in Brno. “The construction of a new nuclear power plant in Dukovany is a huge opportunity for the development of the region, but it also brings a number of challenges that we must be prepared for,” he said. “The study clearly shows that the South Moravian Region will be one of the most affected, and therefore our priority is to ensure that this process is managed as efficiently as possible and with maximum regard to the needs of the population and local infrastructure.”
The study was initiated by the Ministry of Industry & Trade in cooperation with other state administration bodies and was carried out by the Ministry of Regional Development together with the Vysočina Region and the South Moravian Region. The results were discussed by the government in November 2024 and the Ministry of Regional Development was commissioned to prepare an action plan, which will be submitted to the government by the end of June 2025.
One of the most important aspects of the project is the impact on transport infrastructure, which the Minister presented at the Transport JMK 2025 conference. Measures aimed at modifying transport routes, especially for the transport of oversized components and building materials, are already being prepared. The cost of these measures amounts to CZK13.5bn and the government is now working to update the relevant regulations.
The population in the area concerned will increase by up to 9,700, which will help revitalise the region and alleviate the depopulation trend. Increased freight and individual transport will require the strengthening of public transport, including modifications to routes bus connections. To mitigate the effects of transport on municipalities in the area, it is planned to use railway transport and to build a siding on the power plant premises.
There are currently 7,573 beds available in the region for temporary accommodation, but it will be necessary to build almost 3,000 new flats, which will require investments of over CZK10.8bn. However, this could have a positive impact on the local economy of up to CZK250bn, while creating up to 1,000 new business entities. The completion of the power plant will increase the tax revenues of municipalities in the region by approximately CZK1.5bn.
“The completion of Dukovany is a crucial project that will bring long-term economic benefits not only in the area of employment and infrastructure development, but also in the overall prosperity of the region,” Vlček noted. “However, we are also aware of possible negative externalities, especially in the initial phase of construction. It is therefore important that an action plan is adopted as soon as possible to ensure effective management of all aspects of this project and to improve the comfort of the inhabitants of the territories concerned.”
