CEZ installing new Kc700m safety system at Dukovany nuke plant

CEZ installing new Kc700m safety system at Dukovany nuke plant

Dukovany, South Moravia, Oct 24 (CTK) - Energy group CEZ will invest Kc700m in a new safety system at the Dukovany nuclear power plant, to be installed by technicians gradually in all four reactor units during planned outages, spokesperson Jiri Bezdek told CTK, adding that the project is technologically very demanding.

First came Unit 2, which has been shut down as scheduled since the end of August. In all four units, the new safety system should be installed by the end of 2027.

The new system will ensure safe heat removal from the hermetic areas where the steam generators are located. Experts have designed it to be able to function even in extremely unlikely events, CEZ said.

Dukovany's existing four units were commissioned between 1985 and 1987. CEZ would like to operate them for at least 60 years. "Therefore, we are constantly looking for ways to further improve the existing technology. Where it makes sense, we are constantly increasing the level of efficiency and safety," said Bohdan Zronek, CEZ board member and head of the its nuclear power division.

Since the launch of Dukovany, CEZ has invested over Kc67.7bn in the plant. As a result, the output of each of its units has increased from the original 440 megawatts (MW) to the current 512 MW.

The contract for the construction of another two units at Dukovany was awarded to South Korean company KHNP. It was signed with Elektrarna Dukovany II, the company in charge of the project as the investor, in June this year. Geological exploration for the new units began in August.

tam/er