OREANDA-NEWS. On September 25, 2007 Skoda JS, a Czech company which is a part of OMZ (Uralmash-Izhora Group) (RTS: OMZZ; LSE: OMZD; OTC: UHMVY), announced that it has won a tender for the second stage of modernization of the Control and Management System at the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), a part of CEZ, the Czech state energy company, reported the press-centre of OMZ.

Signing of a contract for this US$200 million project by CEZ and Skoda JS is scheduled for early October.

Ten years ago, CEZ approved a program to modernize the Control and Management System at Dukovany NPP. The aim of the program was replacement of an outdated analogue control and management system with digital technology. This will provide for the NPP’s operations until at least 2025.

In 1999-2000 CEZ undertook a tender for implementation of the first stage of the system modernization which included upgrading the reactor management system (M1 module) and information systems (M2 module). Skoda JS was selected as the main supplier of the equipment. Now Skoda JS is working on implementation of US$300 million contract for the first stage of the system modernization. The first stage of the system modernization was begun by Skoda JS in 2000 and is to be completed in 2009 after upgrading of M1 and M2 systems in all four NPP power units.

In September 2006, CEZ organized a new tender for implementation of the second stage of system modernization providing for an upgrading of the first circuit’s equipment management system (M3 module), turbine management system (M4 module) and the second circuit’s equipment management system (M5 module). This stage will include the provision of monitoring and diagnostics equipment. Skoda JS successfully passed the qualification procedure and in March 2007 presented its proposal, which now has been accepted as the best among the competing proposals.