Urenco and ČEZ signed a supply agreement in the 2030s

Thursday, November 7, 2024

The new contract extends a relationship that has already spanned 20 years and the companies signed new agreements at the British Embassy in Prague with Ambassador Matt Field (see picture above).

Sarah Riedel, head of sales at Urenco, said: “I am proud that we have expanded our long-standing relationships with ČEZ suppliers, helping the Czech Republic strengthen its energy security. ČEZ has long been a champion of supply diversity and is a leader in new nuclear energy in Europe. We look forward to supporting ČEZ with enriched uranium for their new reactors, both large and small.”

Bogdan Zronek, director of ČEZ’s nuclear energy division, said: “We have been cooperating with Urenco for 20 years, and the recently concluded contract creates the basis for further long-term cooperation. Our task is to ensure the safe operation of our nuclear power plants. And by diversifying suppliers and contracts with stable companies, we are simultaneously strengthening the energy security of the Czech Republic.”

There are a number of stages in the nuclear fuel cycle, and diversification of suppliers is considered an important goal. Final fuel assemblies for ČEZ’s nuclear power plants are supplied by Westinghouse and Framatome, although until then the uranium will have to be bought on world markets and then enriched. In addition to the contract with Urenco, ČEZ also has a long-term uranium enrichment contract with Orano.

The Czech Republic uses nuclear energy to produce about 34% of its electricity, generating it from four reactors in Dukovany and two in Temelin. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power was recently selected as the preferred supplier for the construction of up to four new reactors in Dukovany and Temelin. The country also has plans to build small modular reactors, with ČEZ choosing Rolls-Royce SMR as its preferred supplier and taking a stake in the company.