ČEZ has plans for three new nuclear units in the Czech Republic, and earlier this year said it had allocated space at its Temelin nuclear power plant as a possible site for the country’s first SMR.

"A nuclear power generation project requires more than a decade for construction and involves operations for more than 60 years. South Korea is a reliable partner in terms of economic feasibility, safety, and ensuring the construction period," Lee said.

ČEZ said three bidders - Framatome, Westinghouse and Russia's TVEL - participated in the tender, which was launched in April 2020.

Westinghouse is one of three finalists in the Dukovany nuclear power plant tender.

The Czech Republic’s Ministry of Industry and Trade has officially given its approval after completing the safety assessment of the three approved bidders - EDF from France, Westinghouse from the USA and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP).

The previous government last year sent security questionnaires to three potential bidders – Westinghouse of the US, France’s EDF and South Korea’s KHNP – after state corporations from China and Russia were excluded on security grounds.

The figure of 65% support for nuclear represents a significant jump on the previous level of 59% in the second quarter of this year.

Therefore, "Nuclear energy has been identified as the primary means of ensuring energy security in the Czech Republic in the context of achieving the goal of a climate-neutral EU by 2050 due to its ability to ensure low-carbon, stable and cheap electricity supplies."

Coal still powers 60% of Czech district heat. IEA said the country should develop clean options like large heat pumps and consider whether small nuclear reactors can take some of the role after 2030.

"For the development of nuclear energy, which inevitably awaits us after the end of coal combustion in the Czech Republic, it is essential that Czech industry maintain high competencies in the widest possible range of expertise related to nuclear energy,"