“We overslept in regards to nuclear energy. We could have been building Temelín by now. We must push this through even if it means violating European law. Energy security is our priority,” Mr Babis said.
In July the Czech government approved a preliminary plan for a subsidiary of state power company ČEZ to build a new nuclear power station at Dukovany.
A tender for the project is expected to be organised at the end of 2020 with construction beginning before 2030 and completed between 2035 and 2040. The contract will be worth about $4.8bn, local press reports have said.
The government has said it will provide financing and political guarantees for the project.
Last month the ministry of environmental protection approved an environmental impact assessment for the construction of up to two new nuclear power plants at Dukovany.
The Czech Republic has six commercially operational reactor units - four Russia-designed VVER-440 units at Dukovany and two Russian VVER-1000 units at Temelín.
A 2015 Czech state energy policy calls for one new unit at Dukovany and possibly three more either at Dukovany or Temelín.
