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KHNP chief makes final efforts for Czech nuclear plant bid
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) President & CEO Whang Joo-ho, second from right, talks to Jan Rafaj, third from right, president of the Union of Industry and Transport of Czech Republic, during a cultural exchange event between Korea and the Czech Republic at Zofin Palace in Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday (local time). Courtesy of KHNP
By Ko Dong-hwan
The chief of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) last week made his final efforts to win over the Czech Republic, where the company is aiming to win the bid for a nuclear power plant construction project, according to the state-run nuclear power company Sunday.
With the Czech government expected to decide between KHNP and France's EDF next month over the project, KHNP President & CEO Whang Joo-ho visited the central European nation and met local decision-makers and industry officials to reassure them about his company's competence.
The company in April submitted its final proposal for the project to Elektrarna Dukovany II, a subsidiary of the Czech state utility CEZ, which seeks to build four 1,200-megawatt nuclear reactors in the country's Dukovany and Temelin regions.
On Wednesday, local time, the first day of his three-day visit to the Czech Republic, Whang met the Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Sikela.
Whang told the Czech minister that KHNP "is ready, can complete the project with a given budget within a given period and is the Czech Republic's optimal partner," according to KHNP.
Whang also spared some time on Wednesday and Thursday to strengthen KHNP's partnership with the Czech Technical University in Prague. The company showcased a nuclear reactor core simulator for the APR1000, a nuclear power plant model it has proposed to construct, inside the university's campus during the two days.
Whang also hit multiple deals with the university, including jointly developing a new program to educate students in the field of nuclear power plant operation and exchanging nuclear technologies.
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) President & CEO Whang Joo-ho, left, poses with Martin Svoboda, manager of SK Horacka Slavia Trebic ice hockey club in Trebic, Czech Republic, after agreeing to extend his sponsorship of the club, Friday, local time. Courtesy of KHNP
On Thursday KHNP hosted a cultural exchange event between Korea and the Czech Republic, which over 400 guests attended. Korea's Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, the Korea Atomic Industrial Forum and the Korea Nuclear Association for International Cooperation joined the event.
Also attending the event were representatives of Korean firms that signed partnerships with KHNP, including Korea Electric Power Corp. Engineering & Construction, Doosan Enerbility and Daewoo Engineering & Construction.
From the Czech Republic, representatives of the country's ministry of industry and trade, the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic and 110 companies that are members of the Czech Power Industry Alliance joined the event.
On the same day, Whang also met with journalists by hosting a press conference to promote KHNP's nuclear capability.
The following day, Whang visited Trebic, a region northwest of Dukovany, and met local officials. There, he extended his sponsorship for a local ice hockey club based in Trebic which KHNP has been sponsoring for the past seven years.
"I promoted KHNP's superb capabilities in nuclear power plant construction and plant management," Whang said. "I'll see to it that the company becomes the Czech Republic's exclusive partner for the country's new nuclear power plant business."