Dukovany 5 and 6 (APR1000) by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power: status and timeline

Milestones

Next · Licensing and detailed design phase

Contract awarded to KHNP consortium2023Complete.
Final contract signed4 Jun 2025Complete.
Extensive geological survey completed (13 km of exploratory wells)Apr 2026Complete.
Conceptual design submitted to Czech regulatorsApr 2026Complete.
Licensing and detailed design phaseTarget 2026Current milestone.
Construction beginsTarget 2029Not yet reached.
First reactor commissioning (Unit 5)Target 2036Not yet reached.
Second reactor commissioning (Unit 6)Target 2038Not yet reached.

Most important updates

Upcoming

2026Licensing and detailed design phase (next)
2026Archaeological survey completion
Q4 2026Cooling tower tender
2028Czech regulatory approval of detailed design
2029Construction begins
2036First reactor commissioning (Unit 5)
2038Second reactor commissioning (Unit 6)

Current obstacles

Regulatory approval for site-specific conditionsCzech regulators must integrate the APR1000 design with Dukovany-specific requirements, including seismic and hydrological data. This typically takes 2–3 years.
Schedule risk on nuclear constructionEuropean nuclear projects often slip schedules and budgets. Dukovany's 7-year timeline from start to power is aggressive. Surprises can delay the project.

Physics limits

Nuclear economics require high capacity factorsA 1,055 MW plant must run 80%+ of the time to be economical. Unplanned downtime for maintenance or refueling reduces revenue.
Radioactive waste storage unsolvedReactors produce waste requiring geological storage for 100,000+ years. No permanent repository exists; all waste stored temporarily. Policy assumes a future solution.
Decommissioning cost uncertaintyEnd-of-life decommissioning costs €0.5–€1 billion per unit, reserved over the plant lifetime. Actual costs often exceed reserves.

How it works

3 parts

Reactor Core

Pressurized water design

A PWR: water heated under pressure passes through a steam generator to produce electricity. No boiling in the core makes it simpler and safer.

Safety Systems

Passive and active redundancy

Independent safety systems work without operator input. Gravity and convection can cool the core if pumps fail. Multiple redundant trains prevent loss.

Licensing Path

European stress tests and site approval

Design passed European stress tests in 2023. Czech regulators write site-specific licences for Dukovany, accounting for geology and seismic risk.

Spec sheet

Spec	Dukovany 5 and 6 (APR1000)
Thermal power per unit	1,055 MW^R (reported)
Total contract value	€18.6 billion^R (reported)
Construction period	7 years (2029–2036 Unit 5; 2029–2038 Unit 6)^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Update log

2 updates

Apr 2026

Major: KHNP submits APR1000 conceptual design for Dukovany; geological survey reveals 13 km of exploratory wellsPressTest

Jun 2025

Major: KHNP and Czech EDU II sign final EPC contract for Dukovany 5 and 6PressCommercial

About Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power

The team behind Dukovany 5 and 6 (APR1000)

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power

APR1000 reactors, South Korea nuclear power operator

South Korea's state-owned nuclear operator and KEPCO subsidiary, generating 32% of South Korea's electricity. In 2025, KHNP won an €18.6B contract to build two APR1000 reactors in the Czech Republic—Korea's first European nuclear export.

KHNP operates 24 nuclear plants, generating 32% of South Korea's electricity.
Dukovany is Korea's first European reactor export, awarded in competition against France and US.
Two APR1000 reactors, €18.6B, construction 2029, operation 2036–2038.

khnp.co.kr (opens khnp.co.kr)Company profile →

Founded: 200125 yrs
Headquarters: South Korea
Status: Government
Valuation: government
Works in: EnergyFission
Coverage: 1 program · 2 updateslatest 1 Apr 2026checked 11 Oct
Partners: Korea Electric Power Corporation (opens kepco.co.kr)
Suppliers: Doosan Enerbility (opens doosanerbility.com)Daewoo E&C (opens daewooenc.com)
People: Whang Joo-hoPresident and CEO

Spec

Dukovany 5 and 6 (APR1000)

Thermal power per unit

1,055 MW^R (reported)

Total contract value

€18.6 billion^R (reported)

Construction period

7 years (2029–2036 Unit 5; 2029–2038 Unit 6)^R (reported)