The Czech Republic is going to continue moving forward with the planned expansion of its nuclear power plant fleet, the country's prime minister said Thursday.

"We are counting on the construction of two additional reactors at Temelin [nuclear power plant]," Petr Necas said at a press conference, adding the country's nuclear power generators are safe.

"We don't have any reason to change [our plans]," Necas said.

The comments follow Germany unexpectedly deciding to shut down seven of its nuclear reactors following the Japanese disasters and just ahead of German elections.

The Czech Republic, through 70% state-owned power company CEZ AS (BAACEZ.PR), later this year will release formal documentation in a $25 billion tender to build up to five nuclear reactors in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The short-listed companies in the tender process are Westinghouse Electric Co., a U.S.-based unit of Japan's Toshiba Corp. (6502.TO), France's state-owned Areva SA (CEI.FR) and Russia's state-owned Atomstroyexport.

Bids will be due next year and a winner chosen in 2013, with the first new reactor expected to come on-line sometime between 2021 and 2025, according to CEZ.
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