On 18 May 2015, the Czech Government approved an updated version of the State Energy Policy of the Czech Republic prepared by the Ministry of Industry and Trade with a 2040 timeline. The energy policy specifies a comprehensive set of priorities and long term goals, taking into account energy, environmental, economic and social interests (see www.mpo.cz/dokument161030.html).

The outlined strategic objectives are based on the European Union’s energy strategy and are aimed at meeting the targets of the State Energy Policy to fulfil the long term vision for the energy sector in the Czech Republic. The top strategic objectives are: (1) security of energy supplies; (2) competitiveness of the energy sector and social acceptability; and (3) sustainable development.

The Czech energy policy is clearly determined by factors relating to international energy policy and the global market, on which the Czech economy is reliant for gas and petroleum imports. The possibility of using various energy sources is limited in the Czech Republic due to the country’s natural resources and economic specifics, which determine their comparative advantages and disadvantages. The potential of energy from renewable resources is limited by the natural conditions of the Czech Republic (climate, geology and soil) and environmental protection requirements (soil, water, landscape character, flora and fauna).

Available energy sources are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1. ESTIMATED AVAILABLE ENERGY SOURCES

*Solid, liquid: million tonnes; gas: billion m³; uranium: metric tonnes; hydro, renewable: TWh.

Source: Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Czech Geological Survey

The general energy balance (energy statistics) is shown in Table 2 (for electricity, see Table 3).

TABLE 2. ENERGY CONSUMPTION

*Latest available data, .please note that compound annual growth rate may not be representative of actual average growth.

- : data not available

Source (s): United Nation Statistical Division, OECD/IEA and IAEA RDS-1

The energy sector was mostly privatized by 2002, though the state still owns about 70% of shares of the Czech Power Company, a.s. (CEZ, www.cez.cz), the major domestic energy production and distribution company. In the long term, state influence in the energy sector is anticipated only in the form of indirect measures (legislation, pricing and taxes) by regulating natural monopolies in particular industries and assuring energy security such as management of ownership rights.

The legislative background is as follows:

• Act No. 458/2000 Coll. (collection of laws) on Business Conditions and Public Administration in the Energy Sectors (Energy Act) establishes a new regulatory regime to regulate business in the electrical power sector. According to the Energy Act, electricity generation, distribution, transmission and trading is subject to licensing. Support for cogeneration of electricity and heat in the form of a duty to buy the produced electricity and in the provision of financial support to electricity production is stated as well. The Energy Act introduces the market environment, opens the electricity and gas markets and establishes relevant institutions: the Energy Regulatory Office (www.eru.cz), the Electricity Market Operator (www.ote-cr.cz) and the State Energy Inspection (www.cr-sei.cz).

• Act No. 406/2000 Coll. on Energy Management stipulates the rights and obligations of natural and legal bodies in the management of energy, in particular of electricity and heat as well as gas and other fuels. It aims to contribute to the economical use of natural resources and the protection of the environment, as well as to the more efficient use of energy, enhanced competitiveness, reliable energy supplies and the sustainable development of society.

Electricity trade is organized and regulated by the Electricity Market Operator, which is a state owned stock company. The key role of the company is to organize the electricity market and flow of information between the market players.

A regulatory role is performed by two state bodies and the technical status is inspected by the State Energy Inspection, which is the government body that supervises energy facilities.

From an economic perspective, the regulatory function is performed by the Energy Regulatory Office, as defined in the Energy Act. It is the state administrative body appointed by and responsible to the Cabinet. Its operating costs are covered by the state budget approved annually by the Parliament. The general mission of the Energy Regulatory Office is to support economic competition and protect consumers’ interests in the energy sector, aiming to meet all reasonable requirements for energy supply (i.e. electricity, gas and heat supplies).

About two thirds of electricity production is concentrated in CEZ, the joint stock company which owns the following power plants located in the Czech Republic: 8 coal power plants, the two nuclear power plant (Dukovany and Temelín), 31 hydropower plants, 12 solar power stations and two wind power plants (https://www.cez.cz/cs/o-cez/vyrobni-zdroje). The remaining electrical power production is provided by plants owned largely by independent producers (e.g. International Power Opatovice, a.s., and Elektrárna Kolín, a.s.) or by auto producers in industry and local heat producers (cogeneration), and by regional utilities.

Electricity is distributed, as well as imported and exported, by the Czech electricity transmission system CEPS, a.s. (www.ceps.cz), a state-owned shareholding company which owns and operates the backbone high voltage power transmission system (400 kV, 220 kV and some 110 kV lines) in addition to a dispatching centre.

Electricity distribution to final consumers is provided by three electrical power distribution companies (utilities) — CEZ, a.s., E.ON Distribution, a.s. (www.eon.cz/en) and PRE Group (www.pre.cz/en). Since 2006, a consumer of any size (including households) can select its electricity supplier. The role of three utilities is in servicing distribution lines and providing them to the delivery organization at the cost defined by the Energy Regulatory Office.

Table 3 shows electricity production and installed capacity, and Table 4 energy related indicators. The energy sources for electricity production have been quite stable for several years since the first operation of Temelín NPP and use of hydro potential, which cannot be further substantially increased due to physical conditions.

TABLE 3. ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION

*Latest available data, please note that compound annual growth rate may not be representative of actual average growth

**Electricity transmission losses are not deducted.

Source (s): United Nation Statistical Division, OECD/IEA and IAEA RDS-1

TABLE 4. ENERGY RELATED RATIOS

*Latest available data.

Source: RDS-2

—: data not available

The nuclear power era in the former Czechoslovakia started in the 1950s, and the decision to build an NPP was founded on an established research and development (R&D) capability, which had a long tradition of industrial success in spite of not using fossil fuels stemming from an absence of significant resources of oil and gas and shrinking coal reserves.

In the 1970s, four WWER-440/213 reactors were built at the Dukovany site. The four units were completed and put into commercial operation from 1985 to 1987. The Soviet design was adopted and Czech industry was gradually involved in the production of plant equipment, with the exception of fuel and main circulation pumps. Czech industry also became a supplier of these parts for other Eastern European countries (e.g. 20 reactor vessels were made by Škoda). In the mid-1980s, construction of the WWER-1000 began at the Temelín site. In 1993, the government decided to change the reactor control system and fuel type to meet specific criteria, and Westinghouse was selected as a supplier. The original project manufacture of four units was reduced to two units. Finally, the two units were completed and put into commercial operation in 2003.

During the period of economic reconstruction in the 1990s, a lack of demand for nuclear equipment led to a loss of industrial capacity. In recent years, demand was partially renewed for sub-deliveries, mainly for Areva Company at Olkiluoto 3 in Finland and Jules Horowitz in France.

In August 2009, CEZ, a.s., launched a tender for the construction of two more units at the Temelín NPP site (Temelín 3 and 4). Final selection was expected to be made in September 2013, but the decision was delayed and later cancelled.

According to the State Energy Policy of the Czech Republic (see www.mpo.cz/dokument155315.html), the primary objectives include: (1) supporting and accelerating the process of negotiating, preparing and implementing new nuclear units at existing nuclear power plant sites with a total output of up to 2500 MW or annual production of approximately 20 TWh by 2030–2035; and (2) creating conditions to extend the lifetime of the Dukovany plant to 50 years and, if possible, to 60 years.

In accordance with the State Energy Policy of the Czech Republic, preparations for the construction of new nuclear units in Dukovany were started. The Ministry of the Environment issued the Positive Binding Statement on the Project of “New Nuclear Source at the Dukovany Site” on 30 August 2019 (see https://portal.cenia.cz/eiasea/detail/EIA_MZP469). An agreement to build new units between the Czech Government and CEZ is underway.

The organization of the Czech Government can be seen in Fig. 1. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is a political ministry with the principal responsibility for overall energy policy and support of selected fields. The State Office for Nuclear Safety (SÚJB) belongs to a group of ‘non-political’ offices of the Government along with the Czech Mining Office (i.e. these institutions have their own budget not connected to any ‘political’ ministry). Heads of these organizations are appointed by the Cabinet on a professional basis.

FIG. 1: Position of the SÚJB in the state administration.

In the Czech Republic, there are several reactors in operation (Table 5), including:

• Four units operating at Dukovany (WWER-440/V213 type PWRs), with a total installed power of 2040 MWe;

• Two units at Temelín (WWER-1000/V320 type PWRs), with a total installed power of 2110 MWe.

TABLE 5. STATUS OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

^*NPP Dukovany

^**NPP Temelín

FIG. 2. Map of nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic.

In 2015, Dukovany NPP had been in operation for 30 years and Temelín NPP for 15 years. The SÚJB conditionally approved operation of both NPPs on the performance of a periodic safety review to the extent specified in IAEA Safety Standards Series No. NS-G-2.10⁽¹⁾ on periodic safety review of nuclear power plants. The first review at Dukovany NPP was performed in 2005–2006 and the second review in 2013–2014. The results of these activities served as the basis of a permit application for operation after 2015, following 30 years of operation.

In September 2015, CEZ, as the operator of Dukovany NPP, applied for SÚJB’s approval to operate the unit Dukovany-1 to 2025. After implementing all required conditions in accordance with Atomic Act No. 18/1997, SÚJB issued an operating license for Unit 1 for an indeterminate period. A new operating licence was issued on 30 March 2016 (valid from 1 April 2016) and includes almost 99 conditions, which, if not fulfilled, could warrant withdrawal of the licence. The license imposes on CEZ an obligation to inform SÚJB about operation beyond the scope of the license to ensure the efficient performance of the state administration as well as the regulatory body.

The application for the license to continue operation of Dukovany NPP Unit 2 was submitted by CEZ, a.s., on 2 January 2017 and for Units 3 and 4 on 30 June 2017. In accordance with Act No. 263/2016 Coll., Atomic Act, SÚJB issued an operating license for Unit 2 as of 28 June 2017 and for Unit 3 and 4 as of 19 December 2017, for an indeterminate period.

For more information about upgrades and modernization of both NPPs please refer to the latest Czech Republic National Report under the Convention on Nuclear Safety, published in 2016.

The Post-Fukushima National Action Plan (Rev. 3) was drafted on the basis of the European Union stress tests and provides additional enhancements of plant safety levels.

The updated State Energy Policy of the Czech Republic considers nuclear power to be a feasible and desirable option.

Within the framework of the State Energy Policy, several future considerations are outlined, including: (1) supporting the development of nuclear energy, including a target of nuclear energy to comprise 50% of the amount of electricity generated and maximizing heat supplies from nuclear power plants; (2) supporting and accelerating the process of negotiating, preparing and implementing new nuclear units at existing nuclear power plant sites with a total output of up to 2500 MW or annual production of approximately 20 TWh by 2030–2035; (3) creating conditions to extend the lifetime of the Dukovany plant to 50 or 60 years, accounting for existing technology, safety and security regulations, the economy and European Union rules; (4) scheduling the potential construction of a new block at existing nuclear power plant sites in line with the expected decommissioning of the Dukovany NPP (i.e. after 2035); and (5) making a decision concerning the storage of nuclear waste by 2025.

In addition, the policy recommends making greater use of heat energy produced from nuclear sources to heat large urban agglomerations. If nuclear power were to continue to be used for a long period of time, it would also be necessary to explore and prepare, as needed, sites for future additional nuclear power stations after 2040.

It is assumed that the delivery of new units will be considered a ‘turnkey’ type project.

At the moment, no official plan has been announced.

The backbone internal electric grid owned by CEPS, a. s. is adequate for internal transfers. New investments will focus on strengthening the connection of new units.

In accordance with the strategic task defined in the updated State Energy Policy, construction of new nuclear facilities in the Czech Republic is desirable. This plan includes immediate preparations for the siting and construction of one nuclear unit at the Temelín NPP site and one unit at the Dukovany NPP site, all while keeping the possibility of constructing two units at both sites by filing the application for the necessary permits/licenses. The Czech Republic National Rreport Uunder the Convention on Nuclear safety.

CEZ, a.s., initiates long term efforts to establish friendly and mutually beneficial relationships with the towns, municipalities and populations within the vicinity of the power plants. These relationships are based on mutual confidence and honesty, and the public has an opportunity to ensure that safety is a priority during operation of nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic. Support of the development of nuclear energy in the Czech Republic was 72% following the 2011 Fukushima accident and has since increased to 74%.

In the region of the Dukovany NPP, representatives and residents of municipalities living in the plant’s vicinity and the general public have been invited to inspect the plant premises, including both spent nuclear fuel interim storage facilities where their questions and comments were considered and addressed. A total of 86% of the population within 20 km of the Dukovany NPP supports modernization and long term operation of the Dukovany NPP and 70% is supportive of further development.

The communication strategy of the Communication Division at the Temelín NPP specifies key target groups of the population. The groups are addressed using a variety of communication facilities. The most important group exchanging information on an intensive basis is made up of the mayors of 33 municipalities within 13 km of the emergency planning zone around Temelín NPP. The power plant organizes 4–6 working meetings annually with the mayors in the presence of power plant and CEZ, a.s., company management. In Melk, the Prime Ministers of the Czech Republic and Austria concluded a general agreement in December 2000 on the exchange of information between both States on the operation of Temelín NPP. A number of expert negotiations took place on the basis of this agreement which are also available in Czech and English on the SÚJB web site: https://www.sujb.cz/mezinarodni-spoluprace/melksky-proces/.

Thanks to these activities under the communication strategy, in the long term, approximately 53% of the population would agree to the construction of a new NPP in the country; this opinion level has held steady. Neither the poll results nor long term trends indicate any significant fear of NPPs in terms of the risk of a nuclear accident or adverse environmental impacts. The main issue is the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and fear of increased construction costs if a new power plant is built.

ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN CONSTRUCTION OF NPPs

Since most of the equipment and all construction parts of both NPPs were produced in the Czech Republic or in Slovakia, involvement of domestic companies is expected and some domestic companies are listed in Appendix 2.

There are no domestic specialized capacities in the areas of uranium enrichment, fuel fabrication and spent fuel processing or heavy water production. The only exception is research in fuel coating and spent fuel processing.

Responsibility for research in the area of nuclear energy is coordinated between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic and the SÚJB. While the ministry sponsors general research in the area, SÚJB supports projects aiming to increase nuclear safety.

Most activities in the area of nuclear energy R&D are carried out by 1) the Nuclear Research Institute at Rež, a.s., founded in 1955; 2) its daughter company, Research Centre Rež, s.r.o., established in 2002; and 3) the Czech Technical University in Prague.

ÚJP Praha, a.s., performs specialized research into fuel element cladding — it is a successor of the former Nuclear Fuel Institute (ÚJP) established in 1966.

Several institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences and other universities such as the Czech Technical University in Prague (Department of Nuclear Reactors) focus their scientific activities on a broad spectrum of issues of nuclear power engineering. They cover theoretical and experimental reactor physics, safety of nuclear facilities or computational tools for nuclear reactor analyses. The Department staff is also concerned with advanced nuclear reactors, nuclear fuel cycles, spent nuclear fuel, and design and test control and safety systems of nuclear reactors. Finally, the Department members study thermohydraulics of nuclear reactors and thermomechanics of nuclear fuels.

At present, three research nuclear reactors are operated in the Czech Republic. Two experimental reactors are located in the vicinity of Prague at the Research Centre Rež, s.r.o. — LVR-15 and LR-0 — and one training reactor VR-1 is operated by the Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague.

The Czech Republic is an active member of the IAEA International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO), providing study support as in-kind contributions within its framework.

The Nuclear Research Institute at Rež, a.s., together with the Research Centre Rež, s.r.o., is engaged in several international research projects under the EU framework programmes on nuclear safety, waste management and other topics in the nuclear field.

The Czech Republic has fruitful international cooperation with a number of international nuclear organizations and is a member of a number of international nuclear organizations and associations such as the IAEA and the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD/NEA).

Intensive cooperation is carried out within the European Union. The Czech Republic is involved in the development of European legislation in the European Council as well as in the planning and realization of EuropeAid projects under the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation and Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance.

The SÚJB is a member of the following associations:

• Western European Nuclear Regulators’ Association;

• WWER Forum (established by the regulatory bodies of countries operating Soviet designed PWRs);

• Association of countries with small nuclear programmes.

In the area of safeguards, the Czech Republic is a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the Zangger Committee.

CEZ, a.s., is also a member of the World Association of Nuclear Operators.

Czech scientists participate in research activities organized by international organizations such as OECD/NEA, the Information System on Occupational Exposure, International Nuclear Emergency Exercises, the Incident Reporting System and programmes of the European Organization for Nuclear Research, Dubna and others.

The Czech Republic has concluded agreements to exchange information with all neighbouring states and general cooperation agreements with other countries having a substantial nuclear programme.

The Czech Republic is a member of the international conventions and treaties listed in Appendix 1.

The SÚJB was established as the Czech Republic’s national regulatory authority to oversee nuclear safety and radiation protection on 1 January 1993 by Act No. 21/1992 Coll. The competencies of the former Czechoslovak Atomic Energy Commission were divided firstly into regulatory activities (nuclear safety and safeguards), which were transferred to the SÚJB, and secondly into promotional activities, which were transferred to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. In 1995, the SÚJB assumed regulatory responsibility in the overall area of radiation protection from the Ministry of Health. In 2000 and 2002 respectively, the scope of SÚJB’s responsibilities was extended to regulate material and technologies which could be used for chemical and biological weapons (in the case of chemical weapons, from the Ministry of Industry and Trade). In 2005, ‘technical’ safety responsibilities was transferred to the SÚJB to simplify the inspection process in important mechanical parts in nuclear installations, such as pressure tubes or vessels. .

The legal framework of the SÚJB is provided by Act No. 263/2016 Coll., Atomic Act. Other legal documents specifying the powers of the SÚJB are listed in Section 3.2.

The SÚJB is an independent central body of the state administration, with its own budget. It is headed by a chairperson appointed by the Government. The chairperson can, on request, be present at a meeting of the Government. Regulatory decisions of the SÚJB cannot be changed by any other Government body. Directors of sections, directors of departments and heads of divisions, as well as nuclear safety and radiation protection inspectors, are appointed by the chairperson of the SÚJB.

The SÚJB has 215 employees. Its organizational chart is presented in Fig. 3.

FIG. 3: Organizational chart of the SÚJB.

The licensing process legislative framework is defined by Act No. 183/2006 Coll. on Urban Planning and Building Code (the Building Act), the Atomic Act and their implementing decrees.

In the case of construction of a nuclear installation, the Building Act establishes a three stage procedure for its permitting, including site decision, construction permit and final inspection approval. General building authorities exercise the competence of a building office to issue a site decision (siting) pursuant to Act No. 183/2006 Coll. The construction permit and operating licence (permanent operation) are issued by the Department of Planning and Building Control of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Their resolutions are conditional upon decisions issued by specialized regulatory bodies, including the SÚJB. The Department of Planning and Building Control of the Ministry of Industry and Trade can issue the operating licence only with the approval of the municipal department of planning and building control competent to issue the site decision, which verifies observance of its conditions; the approval is not an administrative decision, and can be challenged in revision proceedings.

Moreover, every nuclear installation has to undergo a procedure under Act No. 100/2001 Coll., on Environmental Impact Assessment, prior to its construction. A binding opinion is issued as a result of this procedure by the Ministry of Environment.

The Atomic Act establishes how to utilize nuclear energy and ionizing radiation, as well as conditions for the performance of activities related to that utilization. A precondition for the performance of such activities is a licence issued by the SÚJB with an administrative procedure, which is independent of the above described procedure required under the Building Act. The Atomic Act explicitly forbids launching siting, construction, operation and other activities at nuclear installations requiring a licence issued by the SÚJB, before the respective licence becomes legally effective.

Aside from the three stage process mentioned above, the approval procedure also includes a number of other partial licences issued by the SÚJB in accordance with the Atomic Act during different stages of the service life of a nuclear installation.

According to the provisions of Section 5 of the Atomic Act, the licensee shall verify nuclear safety during all stages of the installation’s service life within the scope appropriate for the particular licences. Following this, the licensee will systematically and comprehensively assess associated science and technology considerations, and ensure that results of such assessments are translated into practical measures. The verification/assessment shall be documented. The content of the documentation is specified in Appendix 1 to the Atomic Act. A safety assessment is, in compliance with the Atomic Act, reviewed by the SÚJB, both analytically and within its inspection activities.

The implementing decrees complement the Atomic Act to establish basic criteria for the nuclear safety assessment of a nuclear installation during different stages of its service life.

For more information, see the latest National Report of the Czech Republic under the Convention on Nuclear Safety

(https://www.sujb.cz/en/reports/the-czech-republic-national-report-under-the-convention-on-nuclear-safety-2019/ ).

Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Atomic Energy Agency

Revised Supplementary Agreement Concerning the Provision of Technical Assistance by the International Atomic Energy Agency to the Government of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic (CSFR)

Agreement between the Government of the former Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (historically also referred to as Czechoslovakia or the CSSR) and the Government of Austria on the Issues of Common Interest Related to Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection

Protocol between the Government of the Czech Republic and the Government of the Republic of Austria which changes the Agreement between the Government of the CSSR and the Government of Austria on the Issues of Common Interest Related to Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection

Agreement between the Government of the CSFR and the Government of Germany on the Issues of Common Interest Related to Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection

Agreement between the Government of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic and the Government of the Republic of Hungary on Exchange of Information and Cooperation in the Field of Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection

Amendment to the Agreement between the Government of the Czech Republic and the Government of the Russian Federation on Cooperation in the Field of Nuclear Energy

Agreement between the Government of the Czech Republic and the Government of Canada on Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

Agreement between the Government of the Czech Republic and the Government of the Slovak Republic on Cooperation in the State Regulation of Nuclear Safety and Nuclear Materials

Agreement between the Government of the Czech Republic and the Government of the Slovak Republic on Cooperation in the Field of State Supervision of Nuclear Safety of Nuclear Installations and State Supervision of Nuclear Material 

Agreement between the Czech Republic and the Government of the Slovak Republic on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident

Agreement between the Government of the Czech Republic and the Government of Ukraine on Cooperation in the Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Industry

Agreement between the Government of the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, the Russian Federation and the Government of Ukraine on Cooperation in the Transport of Nuclear Materials between the Czech Republic and the Russian Federation over the Territory of the Slovak Republic and Ukraine

Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Czech Republic and the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on the Development of Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

Agreement between the Government of the Czech Republic and the Government of the Republic of Korea for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

Agreement between the Government of the CSSR and the Government of the Republic of India on Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

Agreement between the Government of the CSSR and the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria on Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

Agreement between the Government of the CSSR and the Government of the Socialistic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy⁽²⁾

Agreement between the Government of the Czech Republic and the Government of the Republic of Poland on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and on Exchange of Information on the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection

Agreement between the Government of the Czech Republic and the Government of Australia on Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy and Transfer of Nuclear Materials

Agreement between the CSSR and the USSR on Further Extending of Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

Agreement between the Government of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic and the Government of the United States of America on Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

Agreement on the Application of Safeguards under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

Additional Protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty Safeguards Agreement