Presidential Office: "Closely Coordinating with the US to Prevent Export Disruptions Amid Dispute with Czech Nuclear Power Company"

"Discussed with US Government Through Multiple Channels"
US Westinghouse Claims Use of Its Technology

Hwang Ju-ho, President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, is giving a briefing on the selection of the preferred bidder for the new nuclear power plant construction project in the Czech Republic at the Government Sejong Complex on the morning of the 18th. From left: Hwang Ju-ho, President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power; Ahn Deok-geun, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy; Ahn Se-jin, Director General of Nuclear Power Project Policy.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 24th, the Presidential Office stated that regarding the dispute between our companies and the U.S. nuclear company Westinghouse over the new nuclear power plant contract in the Czech Republic, "discussions are underway with the U.S. government through various channels to amicably resolve the dispute."

A representative from the Presidential Office said, "The governments of South Korea and the United States share a consensus on the need for cooperation across the entire energy sector, including nuclear power, renewables, and hydrogen," adding, "We plan to continue close consultations with the U.S. side under the strong Korea-U.S. alliance framework to ensure there are no setbacks in the export of nuclear power plants to the Czech Republic."

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, Doosan Enerbility, and Daewoo Engineering & Construction, among other Korean companies, were selected as preferred negotiators in last month's Czech nuclear power plant contract competition.

However, Westinghouse filed a lawsuit in a U.S. court in October 2022, claiming that the Korean-type nuclear power plant utilized Westinghouse's technology, which is subject to export control under the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, and requested that the export be prohibited without U.S. government approval.

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power explained that the Atomic Energy Act, which Westinghouse raised as an issue, exclusively delegates the authority to enforce the law to the U.S. Attorney General and does not grant private parties the right to assert claims through litigation.

In September of last year, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia accepted Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power's argument and dismissed the lawsuit filed by Westinghouse. Westinghouse appealed this decision by submitting an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in October of last year.