Breaking! South Korean $10 billion+ deal halted: French nuclear power vows not to let South Korean nuclear power win on home turf, swears to stop Czech-South Korean contract signing
South Korean media: South Korean Hydropower and Nuclear Power Company's contract with the Czech Republic halted due to local court ruling
The contract between South Korea's Hydropower and Nuclear Power Company and the Czech Republic's subsidiary EDU II for the construction of the second phase of the Dukovany nuclear power plant was suddenly halted the day before the official signing. This is because the local court in the Czech Republic made a decision to interrupt the signing of the contract.
On the 6th local time, the Brno Regional Court of the Czech Republic made a temporary injunction decision to suspend the signing of the contract for the second phase of the Dukovany nuclear power plant between South Korea's Hydropower and Nuclear Power Company and the Czech Electric Company's subsidiary EDU II. Previously, the French Electric Company [EDF], which had been a competitor in the bidding process for the Dukovany nuclear power plant, filed an objection with the Czech Antimonopoly Office [UOHS] on the grounds that there were problems with the selection procedure for the preferred negotiating party. However, the UOHS rejected this objection, and the contract was nearing the final stage of signing.
However, EDF filed an administrative lawsuit again on the 2nd of this month, and the court cited the application for a temporary injunction to halt the contract signing on the same day. The Brno Regional Court stated, "If the contract is signed, even if EDF wins a favorable judgment in the litigation, it will lose the opportunity to sign the contract." Before the court makes its final decision, the contract signing procedures between South Korea's Hydropower and Nuclear Power Company and EDU II will be temporarily suspended.
The South Korean government and parliamentary joint delegation, as well as the related personnel from the South Korean nuclear power industry who were preparing to attend the contract signing ceremony on the 7th in the Czech Republic, all felt extremely baffled. Because the contract signing ceremony originally planned to be held at the Liechtenstein Palace in Prague has become uncertain. Thereafter, the schedule for comprehensive economic cooperation negotiations planned to be promoted between the two countries may also be affected.
Relevant personnel from South Korea's Hydropower and Nuclear Power Company stated, "We are currently understanding the situation and still in negotiation with the contracting party EDU II."
The Czech EDU II, which was preparing for the contract signing ceremony on the same day, also issued a statement saying, "If EDF's lawsuit is found to be baseless, we will claim compensation."
Source: JoongAng Daily
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1831437998624768/
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