Czech Republic Advances Dukovany Nuclear Project as Korean Firm Completes Key Design Milestones

When news broke this week about Czech engineers laying the groundwork for Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power’s (KHNP) new nuclear blocks at Dukovany, it might have felt like a story confined to the rolling hills of Vysočina. Yet the ripple effects of this monumental project—where ČEZ Energetické produkty and its subcontractors are drilling approximately 300 boreholes up to 140 meters deep to assess soil and rock quality—extend far beyond the Czech Republic. For communities across the United States grappling with their own energy transitions, the Dukovany II development offers a compelling case study in how international partnerships, geological rigor and phased construction timelines shape the future of baseload power. Given my background in energy infrastructure journalism, if this trend impacts you in a major U.S. Metro like Chicago, here’s how to decode what’s happening underground in Dukovany and what it means for local stakeholders back home.

The scale of the geotechnical work underway at Dukovany is striking in its precision. As reported by Czech news outlets including ČTK and iROZHLAS, teams began drilling in early August 2025 with plans to complete around 300 engineered boreholes by late November of that year. These aren’t casual soil checks; each hole penetrates up to 140 meters into the subsurface to gather data critical for foundations, cooling systems, and heat exchanger placements—elements explicitly named in the Seznam Zprávy headline that framed this week’s developments. What makes this phase particularly noteworthy is how it builds on prior surveys: whereas earlier geological work secured general siting approvals for the Dukovany II site, this current campaign is tailored specifically to KHNP’s reactor design, ensuring the bedrock can safely support two new VVER-1200 units slated for construction start in 2029 and grid connection by 2036.

This meticulous subsurface characterization reflects a global shift in nuclear new builds, where vendors like KHNP now mandate hyper-local geotechnical validation before pouring a single cubic meter of concrete. For U.S. Audiences, this echoes lessons from projects like Vogtle in Georgia, where unforeseen karst formations complicated foundation work. In Dukovany’s case, the involvement of up to 10 drilling rigs simultaneously—operating across roughly 200 hectares of agricultural land near the existing plant—demonstrates how compressed timelines demand parallel workflows without sacrificing data integrity. The extracted soil, rock, and groundwater samples undergo lab testing to model everything from seismic response to long-term settlement, directly informing the design of safety-critical structures like the nuclear island and auxiliary buildings.

Beyond the technical specifics, the Dukovany II project highlights evolving dynamics in the global nuclear supply chain. KHNP’s reliance on ČEZ Energetické produkty—a subsidiary of the Czech utility giant—for this foundational work underscores a deliberate strategy to integrate experienced local contractors early, a point emphasized by KHNP CEO Whang Jooho during the August 2025 kickoff. This approach mirrors how U.S. Utilities pursuing new nuclear, such as those evaluating slight modular reactors at sites like Idaho National Laboratory or the Clinch River site in Tennessee, are increasingly scrutinizing not just reactor designs but the geotechnical and civil engineering capabilities of regional firms. The partnership also carries economic weight: with site preparation alone requiring months of specialized labor, projects like Dukovany II create sustained demand for skilled trades—from drillers and geotechnical engineers to lab technicians—paralleling workforce development conversations in U.S. Energy corridors stretching from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes.

Given my background in energy infrastructure journalism, if this trend impacts you in Chicago, here are the three types of local professionals you need to understand how subsurface assessments drive major infrastructure decisions:

• Geotechnical Consultants for Heavy Civil Projects: Look for firms with proven experience in deep borehole logging (exceeding 100 meters) for nuclear, bridge, or skyscraper foundations. Prioritize those who partner with accredited labs for soil triaxial testing and can explain how their data informs seismic design categories per ASCE 7. Verify they’ve worked on projects requiring IL EPA or IEPA groundwater monitoring protocols.
• Civil Engineers Specializing in Nuclear-Adjacent Infrastructure: Seek professionals familiar with ASME Section III standards or NRC Regulatory Guide 1.132, even if working on non-nuclear public works. Their expertise in designing structures to withstand differential settlement—critical when cooling water systems or heat exchangers are involved—translates to resilience in Chicago’s variable clay soils. Check for past work with MWRDGC or IDOT on subsurface-sensitive installations.
• Environmental Data Scientists Focused on Subsurface Modeling: The best candidates bridge field data and predictive analytics, using tools like MODFLOW or PLAXIS to simulate contaminant transport or ground movement. In Chicago’s context, experience with the Deep Tunnel Project or Calumet Aquifer studies is valuable. Ensure they understand how to integrate borehole geophysics with historical Sanborn maps or glacial drift charts unique to the Midwest.

Ready to find trusted professionals? Browse our complete directory of top-rated geotechnical consultants, civil engineers, and environmental data scientists in the Chicago, IL area today.