Czech court ruling signals shift in European nuclear procurement

An $18 billion nuclear contract between Czech energy utility ČEZ and South Korea’s KHNP has cleared its final legal hurdle. The Czech Supreme Administrative Court upheld the integrity of the public tender process, dismissing claims of unfairness from rival bidder Westinghouse. This judicial seal enables KHNP to begin construction at the Dukovany site—a linchpin in the Czech Republic’s energy strategy.

For procurement leaders, this is more than a legal resolution. It’s a powerful case study in cross-border supplier selection, risk tolerance, and the growing globalisation of Europe’s critical infrastructure contracts. The decision sets a precedent: non-EU providers, if compliant, can win big. It also signals increased competition and scrutiny in large-scale tenders, especially in high-stakes sectors like nuclear.

Read the full breakdown to understand what this means for your procurement playbook.