The Czech government moved on 19 October to choose the company that will undertake expansion of the country’s Temelin nuclear power plant, taking decision making out of the hands of state controlled power giant CEZ.

Prime Minister Mr Petr Necas told reporters “This is a crucial strategic question of this state and an organ of a private firm, while controlled by state, cannot be responsible for this strategic matter. Only the government of the Czech Republic can be responsible for this strategic matter,”

Mr Necas said. CEZ has so far been in charge of a tender to expand the Temelin plant by two new units, which has attracted three contenders for the project estimated worth 500 billion koruna ($28.5 billion): Russia’s Atomstroyexport, France’s Areva and the US’ Westinghouse.

The tender carries security, economic and foreign policy risks and so must be in the cabinet’s hands, Necas said. “You have a mammoth interest of three world powers, and you will have to say no to two of them,” Vaclav Bartuska, the Czech Republic’s nuclear energy envoy, was quoted as saying by the press after a news briefing. “This is the biggest decision of this government. It represents a choice of civilizational direction,” Bartuska added, appearing to mean a choice between East and West. “You will choose someone with whom you will connect your fate for many years.”

The recent Czech cabinets have declared interest in decreasing the country’s energy dependency on Russia. Under the government’s schedule, the premier said, the contenders would receive tender documentation in 2011 and submit their bids in 2012. Necas’ three-party centre-right cabinet plans to select the winner in 2013, reserving for itself the right not to pick anyone, he added. According to earlier statements by CEZ officials, the company was to announce the winner at least one year earlier.

(Sourced from New Europe)