Czech Republic dismisses 'nuclear power plant bid' rival...Appeal is possible

The Czech anti-trust office has rejected a challenge from rivals over a contract to build a new nuclear power plant for South Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), AFP reported.

They can appeal, the antitrust office added, and can't sign a nuclear power plant contract until a final decision is made.

France Electric Power Corp, EDF and U.S. Westinghouse, which were earlier dropped from the bid to build the nuclear power plant, each filed an objection with Czech anti-trust authorities after KHNP was selected as the preferred bidder.

Westinghouse claims that the patent rights of the reactor design technology used by KHNP are with the company and cannot use the technology without permission, and EDF should confirm the fairness of the bidding process.

In July, the Czech government selected KHNP as the preferred bidder for the additional construction project of the Dukovani nuclear power plant, which has an estimated project cost of 24 trillion won, and decided to sign a final contract by March next year.