Last month, the Czech authorities announced KHNP beat EDF to win a tender to build two nuclear units at the Dukovany power plant, after Westinghouse's bid was ruled out in January.

The Czech competition office (UOHS) said it has received protests from the two unsuccessful bidders.

"UOHS has received an appeal against the sponsor's approach to the tender procedure for the construction of one or more new nuclear reactors, not only from the American company Westinghouse but also from the French group EDF", UOHS said in a statement.

In a statement issued Monday, the American group confirmed the appeal and accused its Korean competitor of using its technology without authorisation.

"KHNP's APR1000 and APR1400 plant designs utilize Westinghouse-licensed Generation II System 80 technology," the statement read.

"KHNP neither owns the underlying technology nor has the right to sublicense it to a third party without Westinghouse consent," it added.

EDF also confirmed it had filed an appeal, saying in a statement it sought "to ensure that the tender process adheres to the principles of fair trade and transparency, notably in a European context."

According to Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, the price offered by KHNP beat expectations, reaching around 200 billion Czech koruna ($8.65 billion) per unit if two units are built.

Prague said it expected to sign a deal with the winner by March, with construction to begin in 2029, and the first new reactor launched in trial operation in 2036.

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