Establishment of Korea's First Small Modular Reactor Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing Support Center
Development and Export of Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing Technology for Small and Medium Nuclear Power Companies
Busan City has been finally selected in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s public contest for the ‘Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing Support Center Construction Project.’
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy conducted the ‘Small Modular Reactor Manufacturing Support Center Construction Project’ contest targeting local governments nationwide from March 11 to April 2.
The city, together with the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials as the lead institution, and a consortium of five organizations including Busan Technopark, Korea Maritime and Ocean University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, and Korea Nuclear Equipment Technology Institute, jointly planned and applied for the project.
A Small Modular Reactor (SMR) refers to a reactor with an electric output of 300 MW or less, integrating major equipment such as steam generators, coolant pumps, and pressurizers into a single vessel.
This selection is the result of over three years of steady efforts since the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (Director Ryu Seok-hyun) proposed the establishment of an SMR auxiliary equipment manufacturing support center to the city in 2021 and began cooperating.
Local National Assembly members Kim Do-eup and Park Soo-young, who is a member of the Industry and Trade Committee, fully supported the contest selection, and the City Council and Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry also prepared as one team with the city, making this achievement even more meaningful.
The ‘Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing Support Center Construction Project’ is the first in Korea to establish an SMR auxiliary equipment manufacturing support center in Busan, building a foundation to strengthen the manufacturing capabilities of small and medium-sized nuclear equipment companies for SMRs.
While major equipment manufacturing technology for SMRs can be developed by large corporations, it is difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises, which mainly handle auxiliary equipment manufacturing, to independently secure related manufacturing technologies and establish equipment.
Therefore, this project is promoted to proactively respond to the global commercialization efforts of SMRs, considered a future new growth industry, and to assist small and medium-sized nuclear companies, which face difficulties entering new growth industries, in developing SMR manufacturing technologies and securing competitiveness.
With this contest selection, the city and the consortium will invest a total project cost of 29.5 billion KRW (9.7 billion KRW national funds, 18.6 billion KRW city funds, 1.2 billion KRW private funds) from May to 2028 to build the SMR Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing Support Center within the Mieum Research and Development (R&D) Hub Complex in Gangseo-gu, and actively support small and medium-sized nuclear companies in developing auxiliary equipment manufacturing technologies and exports.
Specifically, the center will establish core component manufacturing equipment for SMR auxiliary equipment to be shared and utilized jointly, support technology development using the established equipment, prototype production, and export market matching.
Additionally, the center will train related industry personnel using the established equipment, develop and implement R&D support programs, build an integrated information platform for SMR auxiliary equipment, and establish cooperative systems with domestic and international related research centers.
Scientifically, this will localize and achieve self-reliance in SMR auxiliary equipment manufacturing technology, and further expand technological applications to machinery, shipbuilding, marine plants, and hydrogen production. Socioeconomically, Busan aims to become one of the world’s top five producers of SMR auxiliary equipment, creating an induced effect of 65 billion KRW in production and 28.4 billion KRW in added value by 2035.
Busan is home to 144 nuclear companies (accounting for 14.5% nationwide as of 2022) and, centered around the Kori Nuclear Power Plant, can synergize with related industries such as nuclear decommissioning, environmental restoration, and power, making the establishment of this manufacturing support center highly promising.
Moreover, Busan’s geographical advantages, utilizing transportation infrastructure (ports, airports, railroads), favor the establishment of overseas supply chains and exports of SMR auxiliary equipment.
Mayor Park Hyung-jun stated, “Through this ‘Small Modular Reactor Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing Support Center Construction Project,’ we expect the domestic SMR industry to develop centered in Busan. Especially, it will develop in a chain reaction with upstream and downstream related industries, creating very meaningful economic ripple effects in Busan.” He added, “Taking this opportunity, we will actively support small and medium-sized nuclear companies so that a foundry K-Belt for export-oriented SMR materials, parts, and equipment can be established, driving Busan’s future sustainable growth engine.” He continued, “As this is a time when we must prepare for the future to overcome the climate crisis and achieve carbon neutrality, our city will continue to spare no support for revitalizing the related industrial ecosystem, including nurturing talent for the regional energy cluster and supporting nuclear decommissioning technology development projects (equipment construction R&D).”
A foundry refers to a company that manufactures semiconductors on consignment from companies specializing in semiconductor design.
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