SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean authorities on Wednesday dismissed a Czech court’s decision to suspend Seoul’s $18 billion project to construct two nuclear reactors in the country as a mere temporary impediment, articulating unwavering conviction that the contractual agreement will ultimately be consummated.

The contract between the South Korean consortium, spearheaded by the state-owned Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd., and a subsidiary of CEZ, the Czech Republic's premier electricity provider, was slated for finalization this week; however, a Czech court has issued an injunction against CEZ's execution of the agreement pending a review of a grievance lodged by the French entity EDF, which had been unsuccessful in the bidding process against the South Korean contenders.

In a press conference in Prague, South Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun conveyed to reporters that the court's decision would merely occasion a deferral in the formalisation of the contract, with other procedural steps poised to advance as scheduled, contingent upon the eventual execution of the agreement. He further elucidated that the Czech government had not demonstrably anticipated the court's injunction against the accord and that CEZ was poised to pursue an appeal.

The date upon which the Czech Supreme Administrative Court will render its decision on this appeal remains indeterminate.

"The Czech government, evidently not deeming [EDF's contention] a material impediment, extended an invitation to the scheduled signing ceremony," articulated Mr. Ann. "It appears the Czech government's determination was not consonant with the court's disposition."

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, on Wednesday, avowed his government's acquiescence to the court's ruling, concurrently asserting his conviction that "the judges and the court are fully cognizant of the momentousness of this decision and its ramifications for the security and national interests of the Czech Republic."

In a public statement, the South Korean Acting President, Lee Ju-ho, affirmed Seoul's commitment to close liaison with the Czech Republic, articulating a determined effort to facilitate the swift finalisation of the agreement.

In July, ČEZ designated a Korean consortium led by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd., rather than EDF, as the preferred bidder for the Dukovany nuclear power plant project encompassing the construction of two 1000 MW reactors, a decision against which EDF last week initiated judicial proceedings following the dismissal of its appeal regarding the bidding process by the Czech Republic's competition authority.

Prior to his ousting last December amid the ill-fated imposition of martial law, the former conservative president, Yoon Suk Yeol, had pledged to bolster South Korea's nuclear power exports, contending they had been undermined by the preceding administration's policy of reducing reliance on atomic energy; his administration aimed to export ten reactors by 2030.