[cdn-nucl-l] ROK to Export Nuclear Power Technology

["Adam McLean" <adam.mclean@utoronto.ca>]

Posted in the Korea Times on August 5, 2002 and at:
http://www.korealink.co.kr/kt_tech/200208/t2002080518075845110.htm
Hey, aren't those all potential CANDU markets?

Adam

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ROK to Export Nuclear Power Technology

By Kim Sung-jin 
Staff Reporter 

Korea is expected to emerge as one of leading exporters of nuclear power
plant facilities. 

Vietnam, Romania, China and the U.S. are among the promising markets for
the Korean-style nuclear power plant design technology, according to the
Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE). 

Seoul has submitted a proposal last May to the Vietnamese government
that it would conduct a feasibility study into building the Southeast
Asian country¡¯s first nuclear power facility. 

With Japan and Korea vying for the two trillion won Vietnamese nuclear
construction project, Korea seeks to gain a more favorable stance in the
auction by participating in the feasibility study where the nuclear
technology standard and construction locations will be determined, said
the MOCIE. 

Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP), the nuclear arm of state
electricity monopoly Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), is also pushing
for participating in the Romanian nuclear power plant construction
projects, projects that were put off due to a financial crunch but are
expected to be resumed soon. 

In addition, the government plans to boost component exports for nuclear
power plants to the U.S. as some 10 new nuclear plants are expected to
be built in the U.S. since the Bush administration recently switched its
energy policy to a pro-nuclear policy. In addition, many decades-old
American nuclear facilities will require upgrades or replacement. A
majority of the 100 U.S. nuclear facilities were built before the late
1970s. 

Although the U.S., as a global nuclear powerhouse, far outclasses Korea
in terms of nuclear power technology, Korea has a chance to advance into
the U.S. market, a MOCIE official said. 

There are no major nuclear construction projects emerging in China, but
the Korean government is promoting its technological power in the
nuclear power industry by supporting related technologies such as
nuclear engineer education and training programs to prepare for future
demands for nuclear power plants. 

``We plan to foster companies that specialize in nuclear power plant
construction to beef up Korea¡¯s overseas competitiveness. KHNP will be
developed into a nuclear power plant design company. Local nuclear plant
component makers will be fostered to become nuclear plant equipment
suppliers for the Asian region,¡¯¡¯ said the official. 

He added, `` Our combined nuclear power facility related exports were a
mere $200 million between 1991 and last year. This is extremely
miniscule. We plan to step up efforts to boost our nuclear related
exports by focusing on Asian markets.¡¯¡¯ 

sjkim@koreatimes.co.kr