Hutní montáže is one of the Czech biggest construction and installation companies. The Czech company could perform a significant portion of the work if Westinghouse is awarded a contract for two AP1000 units at Temelín. Three reactor vendors submitted bids in July for the construction of Temelín units 3 and 4. Areva offered its EPR reactor; an AtomStroyExport bid is based on MIR-1200 third generation VVER model; and Westinghouse is proposing its AP1000. ČEZ expects to select the reactor supplier and sign the contract by the end of 2013. All three candidates have Czech partners.
The agreement with Hutní montáže is the latest in a series of cooperation deals that Westinghouse has signed with Czech companies. In late January, it signed a memorandum of understanding with Metrostav under which Metrostav assisted Westinghouse in developing and submitting its bid to ČEZ. In December 2011, Westinghouse signed a memorandum of understanding with Vítkovice for the manufacture of key components for potential new AP1000 units in Czech Republic. I&C Energo is another Westinghouse partner in the Czech Republic.
-tk-