Hyundai Engineering Obtains US ASME Certification in Nuclear Construction Field

Obtained ASME NA/NPT/NS Certification for Overseas Nuclear Projects
Boosting Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Business, Aiming to Lead the Market
Plans to Contribute to Carbon Neutrality and Hydrogen Economy Activation

[Asia Economy Reporter Kangwook Cho] Hyundai Engineering announced on the 6th that it has obtained certification from ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) for the nuclear sector in NA (installation and shop assembly), NPT (fabrication of components and piping subassemblies), and NS (fabrication of supports).

The internationally accredited 'ASME Nuclear Certification' provided by ASME is a rigorous technical certification for the fabrication and installation of nuclear boilers, pressure vessels, and piping, and is an essential and prestigious certification system for securing and executing overseas nuclear projects.

The company explained that acquiring the ASME nuclear fabrication and installation qualification certification will further accelerate the micro modular reactor (MMR) business and the small modular reactor (SMR) business applying sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) technology, which are being promoted as new businesses.

Hyundai Engineering is actively entering the modular reactor business sector. Last year, it made an equity investment in USNC, a U.S. company possessing micro modular reactor technology, and this year plans to begin construction of a demonstration plant in the Chalk River area of Canada. This is the fastest commercialization project among 4th generation reactors.

Additionally, Hyundai Engineering is promoting the construction of a 100MWe-class small reactor in Alberta, Canada, utilizing sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) technology in cooperation with domestic companies and institutions and Canadian institutions.

The sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) uses high-purity low-enriched uranium metal fuel to achieve higher power density compared to light water reactors and allows for long-cycle operation. It also relatively reduces the amount of spent nuclear fuel generated, making it a next-generation nuclear power technology recently attracting attention from Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, and Warren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway.

Based on the acquisition of the ASME nuclear fabrication and installation qualification certification, Hyundai Engineering plans to actively promote the small modular reactor business essential for realizing carbon neutrality and revitalizing the hydrogen economy, aiming to secure a leading position in the global small modular nuclear power market in Canada, the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East.

A Hyundai Engineering official said, "By obtaining the globally recognized ASME nuclear fabrication and installation qualification certification in the nuclear construction field, we have externally proven our nuclear construction technology capabilities," adding, "As the global small modular reactor (MMR, SMR) market size is expected to grow explosively in the future, we plan to devote company-wide capabilities to secure a leading position in the market."