Korean industry-academia cooperation to expand nuclear exports

Wednesday, 8 January 2025

The agreement was signed on 26 December during a ceremony attended by representatives from both parties, including Joo-ho Whang, President of the Educational Foundation at KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School (KINGS); Chang-lak Kim, Acting President of KINGS; Yong-soo Hwang, Head of the International Nuclear Non-proliferation and Cooperation Centre (INC) and Jongdoo Kim, CEO of Doosan Enerbility's Nuclear Business Group.

With the signing of the agreement, Doosan Enerbility and INC agreed to cooperate on reinforcing the global nuclear non-proliferation efforts and pursuing the expansion of nuclear exports. To this end, cooperation will be pursued on developing export policies and cultivating a supportive environment, such as bolstering nuclear partnerships with the USA in the area of nuclear security and strengthening the domestic supply chain.

In addition, in response to the surging electricity demand arising from AI data centres, cooperation will also be pursued in the areas of small modular reactor (SMR) technology development and supply chain establishment. Joint efforts will also be made in building a nuclear non-proliferation culture that promotes peaceful applications of nuclear energy.

"The agreement focuses on creating a favourable export environment based on non-proliferation efforts and developing an export strategy through South Korea-US cooperation," Doosan Enerbility said. "This investment initiative exemplifies our commitment to sustain the nuclear industry by closely collaborating with the academic community."

The International Nuclear Non-proliferation and Cooperation Centre was established by KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School in July 2024. It is currently engaged in various cooperation initiatives with the US National Nuclear Security Administration and Sandia National Laboratories. INC's focus is on devising strategies for the overall nuclear exports process, with its coverage ranging from large nuclear power plants and SMRs to nuclear decommissioning and used nuclear fuel management. It is currently working on building strategic partnerships with numerous institutions at home and abroad to establish a wide-ranging cooperative framework.

"This agreement will play a significant role in contributing to the international community's nuclear non-proliferation efforts and enhancing the competitiveness of our nuclear exports," Doosan Enerbility's Jongdoo Kim said. "We plan to continuously work in collaboration with the INC and will seek to further solidify the position held by Korea's nuclear industry in the global nuclear energy market."

In July 2022, the South Korean government laid out a new energy policy which aims to maintain nuclear's share of the country's energy mix at a minimum of 30% by 2030. It also set the goal of exporting 10 nuclear power plants by 2030, as well as the development of a Korean SMR design.

The following month, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy signed a memorandum of understanding with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, Doosan Enerbility and nuclear energy equipment and materials manufacturers with the aim of revitalising the country's nuclear industry. The MoU aims to improve the competitiveness of the nuclear industry ecosystem through shared growth, working together to contribute to carbon neutrality, responding to the energy crisis and stabilisation of power supply. Based on this, the industry plans to closely cooperate to create new jobs, develop joint technologies, exchange manpower and expand exports.