The Czech Republic must build new nuclear power plants, in the interests of energy security even if it’s against European law, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said Wednesday.
“We have to push it through, even if we were to breach European law,…. energy security is our priority,” Babis told the lower house committee on European affairs.
Over one-third of Czechia’s electricity is generated by its two nuclear power plants in Dukovany and Temelin. The government wants state-owned CEZ to build new reactors at both plants.
Babis said it is necessary to emphasize in European climate policy negotiations that nuclear energy is a clean resource. Babis noted that France currently generates 70 percent of its electricity from nuclear power.
Babis said he would push for financial compensation for achieving carbon neutrality in EU climate negotiations. Babis said it’s essential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions so that it doesn’t harm businesses. Babis added that Czechia is fulfilling the commitments it made to reduce emissions.