Czechs should expand Temelin nuke plant -Trade Min

PRAGUE, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The Czech Republic should expand its biggest nuclear power plant in Temelin to create a buffer for an expected increase in electricity consumption, Industry and Trade Minister Martin Riman was quoted as saying.

In an interview with the daily Hospodarske Noviny published on Monday, Riman said he would rather build new reactors at Temelin than set up another nuclear source in the country.

State-owned power utility CEZ <CEZPsp.PR> runs two reactors with combined capacity of 2,000 megawatts at the Temelin nuclear plant which has caused friction with environmentalists in neighbouring Austria.

"A third nuclear power plant is not on the agenda ... But what is on the agenda is the completion of the whole Temelin," Riman was quoted as saying.

It was originally planned to have four reactors.

CEZ, the biggest power utility in central and Eastern Europe, also operates four reactors with a combined 1,760 megawatts at the older Dukovany nuclear power plant.

CEZ has said it would most likely expand Temelin if it opts for more nuclear sources.

Nuclear energy is re-emerging as the possible solution for growing energy needs at the time of high fossil fuel costs and the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

((Reporting by Marek Petrus; editing by James Jukwey; Reuters Messaging: rm://marek.petrus.reuters.com@reuters.net; e-mail: prague.newsroom@reuters.com or marek.petrus@reuters.com; Tel: +420 224 190 477))

Keywords: UTILITIES CZECH TEMELIN