Czechs Delay $7 Billion Nuclear Reactor Tender, Leave China Out
- Industry minister says next government will decide on tender
- Plan to complete reactor by 2036 stays valid despite delay
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The Czech government postponed a tender to build a $7 billion nuclear reactor until after October elections and said it won’t invite Chinese companies to participate in a security assessment of potential bidders.
Prime Minister Andrej Babis’s cabinet sees the reactor as necessary to give up coal and meet the European Union’s environmental goals. After years of disputes over who should foot the bill, the latest plan hit a snag after the country’s intelligence services warned that including Russian and Chinese suppliers would pose a security risk for the NATO member state.