On the 7th (local time), Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power was selected as the preferred negotiating party for a project to build two nuclear power plants with a scale of 24 trillion won (approximately 2.69 trillion yen). In response to this, the special envoy
They will also express their gratitude for the cooperation and discuss the establishment of an intergovernmental hotline for the conclusion of the contract, which is scheduled for March next year.
According to the Presidential Office, the special envoys, led by Director Song, departed South Korea on the 23rd and are scheduled to travel for three days and one night.
During the meeting, he will meet with Czech Prime Minister Petro Piala and Minister of Industry and Trade Josef Sikela. During the meeting, he will deliver a personal letter from President Yoon expressing gratitude for the selection of the country as the preferred negotiating party, and will also discuss the establishment of an intergovernmental hotline.
At a meeting of senior secretaries the previous day, President Yoon instructed relevant government ministries and agencies to strengthen cooperation with the nuclear power industry and to consider sending a special envoy to the Czech Republic.
The delegation will be led by the Chief of Staff to the Presidential Office for Policy, reflecting the President's intention to directly address concerns about the Czech nuclear plant.
Heo and five other working-level officials will join the special envoys and take part in talks with the Czech prime minister. The talks are scheduled for March next year for the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. and Dukovany Nuclear Power Co.
The deal is expected to be the starting point for negotiations toward a contract to build two nuclear power plants between the two countries. The export of Korean-made nuclear power plants for the first time in 15 years is in the early stages after the Czech government selected Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power as the preferred negotiating party for the Czech project.
Although an agreement has been reached, the details of the contract are still to be finalized. In the next six months or so, it will be necessary to determine the actual contract amount and the fundraising method for the project.
Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power plans to hold a meeting soon with the client, Dukovany Nuclear Power Company, to discuss the schedule and procedures for contract negotiations.
Immediately after the announcement, on the 18th, the Czech Nuclear Power Plant Construction Preparation Center was established, consisting of 14 people, and on the 22nd, a negotiation response task force consisting of about 60 experts was launched, and the final negotiations are underway.
The dispatch of the special envoy is expected to lead to the expansion of economic cooperation between Korea and the Czech Republic in areas other than nuclear power. In 2015, Korea and the Czech Republic upgraded their relationship to a "strategic partnership."
Since then, trade between the two countries has steadily increased, reaching a record high of $4.4 billion in 2023. Korea's major industries, including automobiles, have been using the Czech Republic as a gateway to enter the European market.
In particular, the Czech Republic has decided to entrust its largest investment project in history to South Korea, rather than France, the leader in nuclear power in Europe.
The Czech Republic is also due to decide within the next five years whether to build two additional nuclear power plants. If the construction plan is finalized, Korea Hydro will also decide to build two additional nuclear power plants.
Minister Ahn, who participated in the meeting as a special envoy on this day, had met with Czech Ambassador to Korea Ivan Jancarek along with officials from six business organizations the day before and announced the Czech Republic's
He expressed his gratitude for the government's decision and stated that he would like to cooperate in all areas related to nuclear power, including not only the construction of nuclear power plants, but also human resource development and technology development, joint expansion into third countries, and cooperation in the development of small modular nuclear power plants (SMRs).
He also proposed building a new power structure between the two countries. With the 35th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and the Czech Republic approaching next year, he said he would expand and deepen economic cooperation in various fields, including nuclear power, advanced industries, and transportation infrastructure.
He conveyed this.
2024/07/24 07:18 KST
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