The Czech government still supports completion of the Temelin nuclear power plant

The Czech government still supports the project of completion of the Temelin nuclear power plant in southern Bohemia even though some critics say the construction will not pay economically, Prime Minister Petr Necas said yesterday. Necas, who will visit Temelin yesterday with Industry Minister Kuba, said that enlarging Temelin is essential because of the 1,800 MW of coal power that will be decommissioned by 2020. Finance Minister Kalousek said that his ministry and CEZ are drawing up a number of new analyses with regard to enlarging Temelin and that he plans to submit them to the cabinet before the summer break. He said he is not sure about the cost-effectiveness of the project. The basic factor is the price of electricity, he said, and his ministry is looking at models that include compensation mechanisms and guaranteed prices. /just FYI; The inclusion of government compensation mechanism or guaranteed prices into Temelin enlargement project would be positive for CEZ as we expect this would assure (at the moment a highly questionable) return of the project.