Orders as Difficult as During the Nuclear Phase-Out...SMEs Voice Challenges at Ministry of Industry Meeting

'Policy Blind Spot' Invites Nuclear Power Companies for Issue Review
Choi Nam-ho "Requested H2 Briefings with KHNP and Doosan"
Reflecting Industry Voices in '2050 Nuclear Industry Roadmap'
Expressed Willingness to Promote Legislation for Special Nuclear Industry Support Act

The government invited some nuclear power companies that are in policy blind spots to review the nuclear power ecosystem restoration policy and discuss matters to be supplemented. The government decided to reflect the industry requests raised at this meeting in the '(tentative name) Special Act on Nuclear Power Industry Support.'

On the 11th, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held a 'Nuclear Power Ecosystem Complete Normalization Progress Review Meeting' at Seolgawon in Jongno-gu, Seoul, attended by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (hereinafter KHNP), Doosan Enerbility, and others, to hear the industry's current status and suggestions. The meeting was attended by nine small and medium-sized nuclear power companies including BHI and Kukje Electric, as well as the Korea Nuclear Industry Association, Korea Nuclear Power Export Industry Association, KHNP, and Doosan Enerbility.

The government has continuously provided comprehensive support including work orders, finance, research and development (R&D), and manpower to restore the nuclear power ecosystem. As a result of these efforts, key indicators such as sales, investment, and employment in the nuclear power industry have recently shown clear improvement. However, some companies in policy blind spots still face difficulties, such as not securing as many work orders as before the nuclear phase-out policy and struggling with manpower recruitment.

Choi Nam-ho, 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy [Image source=Yonhap News]

The companies participating in the meeting presented major requests including ▲ sharing detailed work order plans of major nuclear power companies such as KHNP and Doosan Enerbility to derive appropriate investment timing for medium and small enterprises and facilitate the establishment of order plans ▲ support for utilizing retirees from the nuclear power ecosystem to resolve recent manpower supply difficulties across the nuclear industry ▲ expansion of independent exports by small and medium enterprises through support for market analysis, strategy establishment, and certification acquisition related to exports.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy plans to prepare policies that need additional discovery and supplementation based on the contents raised at the meeting for the complete normalization of the nuclear power ecosystem.

Choi Nam-ho, the 2nd Vice Minister, said, "We will request KHNP and Doosan Enerbility, who attended the meeting, to prepare detailed work order plans and hold a briefing session in the second half of the year," adding, "We will also consider expanding support for reemployment of retirees from the nuclear industry, preparing export strategies, and strengthening support for certification acquisition."

Vice Minister Choi continued, "The matters proposed at the meeting will be reflected in the '2050 Mid- to Long-term Nuclear Power Industry Roadmap' and the '(tentative name) Special Act on Nuclear Power Industry Support,' which are being prepared with the goal of establishment by the end of the year."