A regional court in the Czech Republic has issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting Wednesday's expected signing of a contract with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power for the construction of new nuclear units at Dukovany nuclear power plant.

The Czech government has announced plans for a state loan to finance construction of two new units at the Dukovany nuclear power plant, with a contract scheduled to be signed with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power next week.

The Czech Republic's competition authority has dismissed EDF's appeal against the process used to select Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power for new nuclear power capacity in the country.

A seven-year agreement to supply natural uranium concentrate for the Czech Republic's ČEZ is described by Kazakhstan's Kazatomprom as "a significant expansion of its presence in Europe".

US-based engineering company Amentum has been selected by Czech utility ČEZ to support its new nuclear programme by advancing plans for two small modular reactors.

Minister of Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček said the proposed construction of new nuclear energy units at Dukovany will bring long-term economic benefits, but an action plan is needed to avoid negative impacts from the construction which is expected to see a 9,700 increase in the population of the surrounding area.

Czech nuclear power plant Dukovany is heading to a new record output after the return to service of the fourth unit following a shutdown which included 48 investment events helping it to operate with a higher output.

Minister of Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček has said that the Czech Republic and South Korea are looking at further investments and trade relations in addition to the proposed new capacity at the Dukovany nuclear power plant.

Minister of Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček said he had discussed with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power CEO Joo-ho Whang about finalising the EPC contract and the involvement of Czech companies in the country's new nuclear project.