Prague - Czech PM Petr Nečas will visit France tomorrow, for the second time in the last 12 months.
After the December 2011 state visit of the Russian president to Prague (more here), it will be another high-profile diplomatic event closely related to the upcoming tender for the reconstruction of the Czech Temelín nuclear plant.
French company Areva is one of the three bidders, the other two being US firm Westinghouse and Russian consortium Rosatom. So far, the French firm has been considered an outsider, but this may still change after the Czech PM's visit to Paris.
Czech intelligence: Russians closer to Temelín deal
Especially because the French side's strategy is to portray the tender as being a determining factor for the future of nuclear energy in the EU after the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
"The future of nuclear energy in the EU is at stake. And this specific point between France and the Czech Republic does not concern the US or Russian offer, because they are not in the EU," said French ambassador to Prague Pierre Lévy.
Lévy said that the tender is "extremely important for the future of the Czech Republic, the future of France and all Europe."
The ambassador said that even though Areva is considered an outsider, the company takes the tender very seriously. "The French government is unequivocally backing Areva in this tender."
While the US company is playing the Transatlantic energy security card and the Russian consortium stresses huge sub-contracts for Czech companies, the French firm is - according to the ambassador - offering transparency and technical safety.
"Our approach is based on responsibility and transparency. We must develop a responsible nuclear industry in the EU, and this is true especially after the Fukushima disaster. Our approach is focused on providing the highest level of security," said the ambassador, stressing that Areva is the only one of the bidders that is currently constructing the same type of reactor offered for Temelín in another European country - Finland. However, Levé admitted that the construction in Olkiluoto has gotten more costly and it has suffered from delays.
"Long-term strategic decision"
"I would stress that this is a strategic decision for half a century in the future," said Levé. "The plan is to include Czech suppliers not only in the reconstruction of Temelín, but also in other projects all over the world.
"Behind this one single project is the key question of the future of all the European nuclear industry for many years ahead, in addition when it is facing new, emerging powers."
However, the ambassador repeatedly refused to give any details on how much work will be delegated to Czech companies in case the French bid wins. This aspect is the cornerstone of the Russian bid.
