Czech state-run power giant CEZ said on Monday it had opened a tender for the supply of two new units for the Temelin nuclear power station in southern Czech Republic.
"The whole administrative process will require about 7-8 years," while the whole completion of the plant will take roughly 15 years, CEZ spokesman Ladislav Kriz said in a statement.
"The completion of Temelin will reduce our dependence on energy imports from abroad and will help maintain energy security and meet climate protection goals," he added.
Temelin, one of two Czech nuclear power stations, has two units with total installed output of 2,000 megawatts at present.
Planned in the communist era and launched in 2002, Temelin sparked a long-dragging dispute between the Czech Republic and Austria which insists the reactors situated 60 kilometres (35 miles) from its border are not safe.
Kriz said in the statement CEZ expected the new units to use new-generation reactors which would cut the construction costs, produce less radioactive waste and ensure higher efficiency.
CEZ, expanding strongly, mainly in Europe's former communist countries, also wants the selected supplier to guarantee one-sided options to build up to three other nuclear units for CEZ in "other potential locations in Europe."
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