ŠKODA JS in 2018 – stable good results

The Company continued its export orientation. Its exports to 14 countries accounted for 68% of revenue, with the largest share made up of deliveries to Slovakia, Ukraine and Armenia. For the future stability and development of the Company, it is important that new contracts amounting to nearly CZK 4.1 billion were signed for the next period.

“ŠKODA JS confirmed its position as a significant European company in supplies for the nuclear power industry. The Company continued in both local and foreign projects and simultaneously investigated the possibilities of engagement in future business opportunities in the nuclear power industry at home and abroad as well as further cooperation with major business partners worldwide,” said Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director of ŠKODA JS, Vladimír Poklop. “In 2018, it once again proved beneficial that the Company maintained its triangular model made up of the combination of Engineering, Production and Service. This allows the Company to offer comprehensive services and deliveries, guarantee high quality and provide its customers with a team that works for them in all phases of their projects, from the initial intention to the end of its lifetime.” The Company continually innovates its facilities and equipment. In 2018, ŠKODA JS a.s. spent CZK 145 million on the acquisition, modernization and repairs of capital assets. The number of the Company’s staff is steadily around 1,100.

With its share of over 67%, Engineering contributed most significantly to the Company’s revenue in 2018. Completion of Units 3 and 4 of the Mochovce NPP in Slovakia remained the main project in this segment, where preparations for the commissioning of Unit 3 and completion of assembly activities and the initiation of tests at Unit 4 progressed. The control system replacement projects at the Paks NPP in Hungary and the modernization of Ukrainian nuclear power plants have continued successfully.

Service represents a stable segment contributing nearly 19% to the Company’s revenue. Service activities at the Dukovany and Temelín NPPs went ahead under a framework contract concluded with ČEZ, a.s., on the maintenance of the Primary Circuit Logical Units. Within planned outages, ŠKODA JS carried out, besides standard service and maintenance repairs, more significant repairs such as the replacement of the swing check valve of a low pressure emergency core cooling system at Unit 3 of the Dukovany NPP. 

In 2018, the share of the Production segment in the Company’s revenue amounted to nearly 14%. This share will increase in the coming years. The development stage of the execution of the contract for the delivery of ŠKODA 1000/19 casks for the Temelín NPP was completed with the dispatch of the first of the casks. Until the year 2035, ŠKODA JS plans to produce a total of 60 of them. Works on the preparation of the production of casks for the Dukovany NPP were carried out. Production of instrumentation and control elements for VVER type reactors continues. Another boost for the development of this division is the contract concluded in 2018 with the French company FRAMATOME for the production and supply of two sets of EPR 1600 MW type reactor pressure vessel internals for the construction of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant in Great Britain.

In 2018, ŠKODA JS once again proved that together with other Czech companies specializing in deliveries for the nuclear power industry the Company maintains and develops its know-how, potential and preparedness to take part in significant new projects in the Czech power industry.

“A realistic schedule was prepared in the Czech Republic of preparations for the construction of new nuclear sources, in which the year 2019 will be very important,” said Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director of ŠKODA JS, Vladimír Poklop. “Ensuring a sufficient power generation capacity is a key factor in energy security. Within the next twenty years, coal-fired power plants, which provide more than half of the electricity generated today, will gradually close down. The only zero emission power source that can realistically make up for this loss is represented by nuclear power plants. We are prepared to apply our experience and the know-how we have acquired abroad in the Czech Republic. Apart from ensuring energy security, constructing new power sources with a significant Czech participation also means increased stability and performance levels of Czech companies. It is therefore a project that will contribute to the stability of the industry and significantly and positively affect the development of regions.”