Dukovany 5, the impact of tightening energy regulation, and launch of a nuclear MEP club

December 8, 2021

Another invitation-only expert debate focusing on critical challenges of the Czech energy sector took place on  December 8. Tomáš Pleskač,   ČEZ Board Member and New Energy Division Director, opened the discussion with a presentation on the construction of the new nuclear unit Dukovany 5. He pointed out the necessity of the State Energy Policy review, which should reflect decarbonization, price reduction of renewable energy sources, and electrification of other sectors. He also informed about the current dialog between ČEZ and the government on the construction of the new unit in Dukovany and about preparations for supplier competitive tendering. Pleskač also briefly introduced the financial model and timetable for the 1st phase.

Mojmír Hampl (KPMG) focused on the impact of further tightening of energy market regulation in his remarks. He stressed that even an energy market upheaval should not be a stimulus for the general policy shift and explained it by way of finance sector example. Its foundations were not undergoing any reform after the 2008 financial crisis. But the deluge of regulations maintaining the original direction of the whole financial industry for rising costs came instead. According to Hampl, the same could happen in the energy sector.

Alexandr Vondra briefly introduced a new network on the future of nuclear power in Europe launched in the European Parliament at the initiative of Christophe Grudler (Renew Europe) from France. The inclusion of nuclear in the EU taxonomy and research and innovation to reduce nuclear waste are priorities of this new nuclear MEP club. A. Vondra (ECR) and MEPs from Bulgaria, Finland, France, and Sweden are among its founding members.

Almost 30 experts from the Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, governmental agencies, and high-ranking managers of private energy companies and consulting companies took part in the regular debate on energy organized by PCTR this time.