"We want to take another step towards making the Czech Republic self-sufficient in terms of energy," Prime Minister Petr Fiala told reporters at the plant.

France's EDF, South Korea's KHNP and US-based Westinghouse have expressed interest in the tender.

The Czech government banned Chinese and Russian bidders last year, citing security concerns.

Russia's Rosatom was ruled out following a diplomatic spat between the Czech Republic and Russia which saw dozens of diplomats expelled by both countries in April 2021.

Prague had accused Russian secret services of having orchestrated blasts at an ammunition depot in eastern Czech Republic which killed two people in 2014.

"We can see the reasoning was absolutely correct. Today, nobody can imagine that we could admit Russia into the project," Fiala said, referring to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"If everything goes to plan, construction will begin in 2029 and production can begin in 2036," he added.

The Czech state-owned power group CEZ runs two nuclear plants -- Dukovany and the southern power station of Temelin -- which make up about half of its power output.

CEZ chairman Daniel Benes said the company expected initial bids by the end of November, with the contract to be signed in 2024.

The Czech Republic was among the EU members that had pushed the bloc last year to accept nuclear energy as green investment, a move fiercely opposed by others including neighbouring Austria.

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