US nuclear company Westinghouse Electric has filed an appeal against the Czech Republic’s decision to select South Korea’s Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) as the preferred bidder for a multi-billion-dollar nuclear project. The Czech government chose KHNP to construct two nuclear reactors at the Dukovany power plant, each costing $8.65 billion, following a competitive bidding process. KHNP was selected over France’s EDF, with sources indicating that KHNP’s bid was significantly less costly.
Westinghouse, which submitted a bid but did not reach the final stage, claims that KHNP lacks the right to transfer and sublicense the nuclear technology included in its proposal, alleging it replicates Westinghouse technology. Westinghouse argues that it holds the exclusive legal rights to obtain US government approval for exporting this technology.
In a press release, Westinghouse stated its intent to “vigorously defend its intellectual property rights and compliance with U.S. export control laws via the ongoing international arbitration and U.S. litigation.” A decision from the arbitration process is expected in the second half of 2025. The Czech anti-monopoly office, UOHS, confirmed it would review the appeal.
This dispute follows a history of tensions between Westinghouse and the Czech Republic, including the 2010 switch of the country’s Temelín VVER-1000 reactor from Westinghouse fuel to Russian supplier TVEL, citing economic reasons and technical incompatibilities.
The Czech Republic is pursuing nuclear expansion as part of its strategy to phase out coal-fired power. Currently, six nuclear reactors generate about one-third of the country’s electricity.