British help with construction of mini-nuclear power plant in Czech Republic

Plans for the construction of small nuclear reactors are progressing in the Czech Republic. Representatives of the partly state-owned energy group CEZ and the British company Rolls-Royce SMR have now signed contracts on the preparations for the development and construction of the new mini-nuclear power plants. An initial test project is to be built at the Temelin site, just 60 kilometers from the border with Bavaria.

Discussion in Germany

The new technology is also being discussed in Germany. Bavaria's Minister President Markus Söder recently brought his state into play for a pilot project. However, the issue of nuclear power is controversial within the German government, which is made up of the CDU/CSU and SPD. Germany withdrew from the use of nuclear energy in mid-April 2023.

Far-reaching plans

The British Rolls-Royce Group has experience in building nuclear reactors and propulsion systems for nuclear submarines. The Czech partner CEZ wants to build up to six mini-nuclear power plants on the sites of existing coal-fired power plants by 2050. But the plans go further: together with the British, they want to conquer the European market, said Czech Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlicek after a meeting with British Business Minister Peter Kyle in Prague.