Sustaining Overseas Nuclear Projects... Focus on Securing New Nuclear Plant Contracts in Cheko

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Dongwoo Lee] As the new government signals a policy to restore the nuclear power industry ecosystem, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) is also showing momentum in exporting nuclear power plants overseas. KHNP has launched an all-out effort to win the 8 trillion won-class new nuclear power plant project in the Czech Republic, aiming to revive the legacy of large-scale overseas commercial nuclear power plant orders that have been interrupted since 2009.

According to related ministries on the 10th, KHNP recently held the ‘Team Korea Joint Cooperation Council’ at the Radiation Health Institute to secure competitiveness in winning the Czech new nuclear power plant project. Specialized companies possessing domestic nuclear power-related technologies gathered to brainstorm for the Czech nuclear power plant bid. Representatives from Team Korea companies such as Korea Electric Power Technology, KEPCO Nuclear Fuel, KEPCO KPS, Doosan Enerbility, and Daewoo Engineering & Construction attended.

Earlier, KHNP received the bid invitation from the Czech Electricity Company on the 17th of last month. The final bid is scheduled to be submitted by the end of November. The Czech Republic plans to construct one pressurized water reactor nuclear power plant under 1200 MW in the Dukovany area. The construction of three additional nuclear power plants is also under consideration. The project is planned to proceed with the selection of a preferred negotiator and final operator by 2024, design and licensing acquisition, construction commencement in 2029, and commercial operation targeted for 2036.

Jaehoon Jung, President of KHNP, has devoted efforts by visiting the site seven times recently to secure the Czech nuclear power plant project. Even during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, he established a full-cycle cooperation system with local nuclear power companies, and last year, he met with members of the local Nuclear Regulatory Commission and opposition party leaders to dedicate himself to winning the order.

The reason KHNP is focusing on the Czech nuclear power plant order is to utilize it as a foothold for future overseas projects amid the global strengthening of nuclear power initiatives. Since the UAE Barakah nuclear power plant order in 2009, overseas projects have been interrupted, and this is an opportunity to showcase Korean technology to the world once again as the overseas business is actively promoted.

Currently, major overseas nuclear power projects planned include six units of 6000~9000 MW in Poland’s Lubiatowo-Kopalino, four units of 1200 MW in Egypt’s El Dabaa, and sixteen units of 17,000~21,000 MW in Saudi Arabia.