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<체코 법원, 마지막 순간 제기된 항소로 KHNP와의 원전 계약 체결 중단>
로이터통신, 2025년 5월 6일, 프라하
체코 법원은 자국 최대 전력회사인 CEZ의 자회사가 한국수력원자력(KHNP)과 최소 180억 달러 규모의 신규 원전 건설 계약을 체결하는 것을 일시 중단시켰다고 6일(현지시간) 밝혔다. 이는 프랑스 업체 EDF가 입찰 탈락에 대해 제기한 소송이 처리될 때까지 계약 체결을 보류하라는 결정이다. EDF는 지난주 체코 경쟁당국(UOHS)이 입찰 결과에 대한 자사의 이의를 기각하자 법원에 소송을 제기했다. 체코 정부는 CEZ의 과반 지분을 보유하고 있으며, 원래는 7일 KHNP와 계약을 체결할 예정이었다.
브르노 지방 법원은 “계약이 체결되면, 설사 프랑스 측이 소송에서 승소하더라도 공공 계약 수주 기회를 사실상 잃게 된다”고 설명했다. 이번 결정은 최고행정법원에 항소할 수 있다.
CEZ는 지난해 두코바니(Dukovany) 원전 확장을 위해 KHNP를 1,000메가와트급 원자로 2기 건설 사업자로 선정했다. 지난주 체코 정부는 CEZ 자회사이자 신규 원자로 건설을 맡은 EDU II의 지분 80%를 인수하기로 합의해, CEZ의 재정 부담을 덜겠다는 방침을 밝혔다.
UOHS는 자사의 결정이 정당하며, EDF의 이의 제기를 기각한 판단을 유지한다는 입장을 밝혔다. 대변인은 “이번 법원의 판단은 절차적인 결정일 뿐이며, 본안 소송에서 어떤 판결이 내려질지를 의미하지 않는다”고 말했다.
한편 CEZ는 이날 앞서 발표한 성명에서 “입찰 절차는 공정하게 진행됐으며 KHNP의 제안이 EDF보다 유리했다”며, 향후 법원이 CEZ의 사업자 선정을 정당하다고 판단할 경우 손해배상을 청구할 것이라고 밝혔다.
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"UOH(Úřad pro ochranu hospodářské soutěže)는 체코 경쟁청(Office for the Protection of Competition)으로, 체코 내에서 공정한 시장 경쟁을 유지하고 독과점 행위를 감시하며, 공공 조달(입찰) 절차의 적법성과 공정성을 감독한다. 주요 업무로 1) 기업 결합(M&A) 심사, 2) 반독점법 위반 행위 조사, 3) 공공조달 관련 분쟁 심사 및 이의제기 처리, 4) 국가 보조금 관련 감시를 담당한다."
참 쉽지 않네요...
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Czech court blocks signing of $18 billion nuclear plant deal with KHNP
By Jan LopatkaMay 6, 2025
Electricity pylons carry power from CEZ's Ledvice coal-fired power plant near the village of Ledvice, Czech Republic, February 9, 2016. REUTERS/David W Cerny Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
Summary
Companies
Court injunction halts signing largest Czech procurement deal
Court to consider handling of EDF complaints against tender
Prime minister hopes for quick decision
EDF welcomes decision, CEZ may seek damages
PRAGUE, May 6 (Reuters) - A Czech court has blocked electricity firm CEZ (CEZP.PR), opens new tab from signing a contract worth at least $18 billion with South Korea's KHNP to build a new nuclear power plant until the court has handled a complaint from the losing bidder, France's EDF.
EDF filed a complaint against Czech competition regulator UOHS last week after UOHS rejected its appeal over a tender to pick a supplier for two nuclear reactors - the biggest public procurement in Czech history and a key part of the country's energy strategy to replace coal and ageing nuclear units.
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The Czech government, which has a majority stake in CEZ, had scheduled a contract signing with KHNP for Wednesday.
"If the contract were concluded, the French bidder would inadvertently lose the possibility of winning the public contract, even if the court rules in its favour in litigation," the Brno Regional Court said in a statement.
The decision can be appealed at the Supreme Administrative Court, it said. CEZ said it was likely to file an appeal.
Last year, CEZ picked KHNP to build two 1,000-megawatt units to expand its Dukovany nuclear plant, giving KHNP its first project in Europe. EDF has since sought to overturn the decision on multiple fronts.
Last week, the government agreed to take an 80% stake in CEZ subsidiary EDU II, which was set up to build the new units, to ease the financial burden on CEZ, boosting CEZ shares.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala said he hoped the court would rule quickly on the case, saying on X that the process was fair.
EDF said it welcomed the decision "which provides the necessary time for a thorough assessment of any potential infringement of its rights," and added it was also pursuing the case at the European Commission.
CEZ said it would seek damages if courts ruled in favour of its selection.
KHNP also reserved the right to take its own legal steps. "The attempt to challenge the result through legal manoeuvres is regrettable and represents a direct attack on the principles of fair competition," it said.
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Czech court blocks signing of $18 billion nuclear plant deal with KHNP
By Jan LopatkaMay 6, 2025
Electricity pylons carry power from CEZ's Ledvice coal-fired power plant near the village of Ledvice, Czech Republic, February 9, 2016. REUTERS/David W Cerny Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
Summary
Companies
Court injunction halts signing largest Czech procurement deal
Court to consider handling of EDF complaints against tender
Prime minister hopes for quick decision
EDF welcomes decision, CEZ may seek damages
PRAGUE, May 6 (Reuters) - A Czech court has blocked electricity firm CEZ (CEZP.PR), opens new tab from signing a contract worth at least $18 billion with South Korea's KHNP to build a new nuclear power plant until the court has handled a complaint from the losing bidder, France's EDF.
EDF filed a complaint against Czech competition regulator UOHS last week after UOHS rejected its appeal over a tender to pick a supplier for two nuclear reactors - the biggest public procurement in Czech history and a key part of the country's energy strategy to replace coal and ageing nuclear units.
Make sense of the latest ESG trends affecting companies and governments with the Reuters Sustainable Switch newsletter. Sign up here.
00:19Kenyan farmers share seeds to fight hunger and climate change
The video player is currently playing an ad.
The Czech government, which has a majority stake in CEZ, had scheduled a contract signing with KHNP for Wednesday.
"If the contract were concluded, the French bidder would inadvertently lose the possibility of winning the public contract, even if the court rules in its favour in litigation," the Brno Regional Court said in a statement.
The decision can be appealed at the Supreme Administrative Court, it said. CEZ said it was likely to file an appeal.
Last year, CEZ picked KHNP to build two 1,000-megawatt units to expand its Dukovany nuclear plant, giving KHNP its first project in Europe. EDF has since sought to overturn the decision on multiple fronts.
Last week, the government agreed to take an 80% stake in CEZ subsidiary EDU II, which was set up to build the new units, to ease the financial burden on CEZ, boosting CEZ shares.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala said he hoped the court would rule quickly on the case, saying on X that the process was fair.
EDF said it welcomed the decision "which provides the necessary time for a thorough assessment of any potential infringement of its rights," and added it was also pursuing the case at the European Commission.
CEZ said it would seek damages if courts ruled in favour of its selection.
KHNP also reserved the right to take its own legal steps. "The attempt to challenge the result through legal manoeuvres is regrettable and represents a direct attack on the principles of fair competition," it said.
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