CEZ sees picking winner of nuclear tender in 2012

PRAGUE, March 10 (Reuters) - Czech power utility CEZ
(CEZPsp.PR) expects to sign a deal to build new nuclear blocs at
the Temelin nuclear power plant in 2012, the company said on
Wednesday.

Analysts have said the two new units, plus up to three
others, may be worth some 500 billion crowns ($26.50 billion),
which would make it by far the biggest Czech investment deal.

The process will be closely monitored by the next government
formed after a general election in May this year. CEZ is 69
percent state-owned.

"We anticipate that bids submission and their negotiation
will take place in the year 2011 and the contract with a
successful candidate will be signed in the first half of year
2012," CEZ said.

CEZ said it held the first informative meeting with bidders
-- Toshiba unit Westinghouse (6502.T), a group of Russia's
Atomstroyexport and Czech Skoda JS, and France's Areva
CEPFi.PA -- on Wednesday.

CEZ is planning to build 2 units at the Temelin plant
southern Czech Republic, near Austria, and up to 3 other units
in Slovakia and at its eastern Czech Dukovany station.

Austria, which had given up on nuclear energy, had in the
past strongly opposed commissioning of the Temelin plant.
(Reporting by Jan Lopatka; editing by James Jukwey)