OECD "Nuclear Power Expansion" Joint Declaration... Korea to Co-host Nuclear Ministers Meeting Next Year

Dukovany, the planned site for a new nuclear power plant in the Czech Republic [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 19th that Lee Ho-yeon, Director of the Energy Policy Office, attended the '2nd OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Ministerial Meeting' held at the OECD Conference Centre in Paris, France, where he introduced South Korea's nuclear power policy.

The event was attended by over 100 participants, including high-level government officials from more than 20 countries, CEOs of over 40 nuclear power companies, and experts, who discussed cooperation measures to expand new nuclear power plants worldwide and accelerate the deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

According to the Ministry, South Korea was invited as one of the major nuclear power operating countries alongside the United States, France, and the United Kingdom, and presented the current status of its nuclear power policy implementation and successful experiences in nuclear power plant construction and operation. Director Lee stated in his presentation, "South Korea is already participating in the international community's movement to expand nuclear power," adding, "We will assist countries interested in expanding nuclear power and share South Korea's safe design, construction, and operational capabilities and experiences with the world by participating in overseas nuclear power projects."

At the main event, South Korea and over 20 countries adopted a joint declaration to implement global nuclear power expansion goals. The joint declaration reaffirmed the contribution of nuclear power to achieving carbon neutrality and economic revitalization, and especially promised to accelerate international cooperation in various areas such as promoting the development of next-generation nuclear technologies including SMRs, speeding up licensing procedures, and establishing stable supply chains to expand global nuclear power.

On the same day, the OECD NEA announced South Korea as a co-host country for next year's Nuclear Ministerial Meeting. Secretary-General MacWood evaluated South Korea as a suitable leader for next year's global nuclear power expansion discussions, stating, "South Korea's achievements in the nuclear power sector are exemplary for other countries." Accordingly, South Korea is scheduled to co-host the 3rd Nuclear Ministerial Meeting to be held in September next year.

Meanwhile, Director Lee Ho-hyun plans to hold separate meetings on the 20th with Orano, a uranium development company in France, and Framatome, a nuclear fuel manufacturing company, to strengthen full-cycle supply chain cooperation including uranium ore, conversion, enrichment, and nuclear fuel manufacturing.