ČEZ extends nuclear plant lifespans; Slovakia targets JESS buyout

nuclear energy ČEZ JESS Robert Fico energy infrastructure

Czech energy group ČEZ has announced plans to extend the operational lifespan of its Dukovany and Temelín nuclear power plants to 80 years. To support this long-term strategy, the company expects to invest between 10 and 12 billion CZK annually in modernization, digitalization, and safety enhancements. Under these new timelines, Dukovany blocks are expected to operate until 2065–2067, while Temelín blocks could run until 2080–2082.

In Slovakia, Prime Minister Robert Fico has set a September deadline to finalize the buyout of ČEZ's 49 percent stake in the Jadrová energetická spoločnosť Slovenska (JESS) joint venture. The goal is for the Slovak state to gain full control over the development of a new 1,200 MW nuclear reactor at Jaslovské Bohunice. Fico criticized the Slovak Ministry of Economy for causing delays in the ownership settlement and announced that the Government Office will take a more direct role in the process.

Regarding energy security, Fico noted that Slovak nuclear plants are highly resilient to extreme drought due to their use of cooling towers, a technical advantage over neighboring plants in Hungary and Romania that rely more directly on river water levels.

Entities

JESS · Jaslovské Bohunice · Robert Fico · Westinghouse · ČEZ

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 3 SOURCES] ČEZ has decided to extend the operational lifespan of its nuclear blocks to 80 years. www.novinky.cz · www.echo24.cz · www.ceskenoviny.cz
[● 5 SOURCES] Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico aims to settle ownership arrangements in the JESS joint venture by September. newsnow.tasr.sk · www.seznamzpravy.cz · tyden.cz · www1.pluska.sk · www.pravda.sk
[● 3 SOURCES] ČEZ plans to invest between 10 and 12 billion CZK annually in nuclear power plants. www.novinky.cz · www.echo24.cz · www.ceskenoviny.cz
[● 3 SOURCES] Under new plans, Dukovany blocks will operate until 2065–2067 and Temelín blocks until 2080–2082. www.novinky.cz · www.echo24.cz · www.ceskenoviny.cz
[● 5 SOURCES] The Slovak state intends to buy out ČEZ's 49 percent stake in the JESS joint venture to gain full control of a new nuclear project. newsnow.tasr.sk · www.seznamzpravy.cz · tyden.cz · www1.pluska.sk · www.pravda.sk
[● 2 SOURCES] Slovakia is planning a new 1,200 MW nuclear reactor at Jaslovské Bohunice, with Westinghouse considered as a primary supplier. newsnow.tasr.sk · www.pravda.sk
[● 2 SOURCES] Prime Minister Fico stated that Slovak nuclear plants are more resilient to drought than those in Hungary or Romania because they utilize cooling towers. www.pravda.sk
[● 5 SOURCES] Prime Minister Fico criticized the Slovak Ministry of Economy for causing delays in the JESS ownership settlement. newsnow.tasr.sk · www.seznamzpravy.cz · tyden.cz · www1.pluska.sk · www.pravda.sk