Establishment of Dedicated Nuclear Power Department Last Year
Achievement in Global Nuclear Power Business This Year
Collaboration with KEPCO E&C Across the Entire Nuclear Power Plant Lifecycle
HanmiGlobal, a global construction project management (PM) specialist, has achieved its first success in entering the overseas nuclear power plant market. This milestone comes just one year after the company established a dedicated nuclear power department last year.
On August 6, HanmiGlobal announced, "We have been awarded the PM contract for the infrastructure improvement project of Unit 1 (706MW-class CANDU reactor) at the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant in Romania." The contract is valued at approximately 10 billion KRW. This project aims to extend the operational life of Cernavoda Unit 1, which began commercial operation in 1996, by 30 years through facility upgrades. It is a follow-up PM service to the contract signed between Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and Romania’s Societatea Nationala Nuclearelectrica (SNN) at the end of last year.
This project will be carried out by an EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) consortium comprising Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, Canada’s Candu Energy, and Italy’s Ansaldo Nucleare. Within this consortium, KHNP is leading 'Team Korea' with domestic partners such as KEPCO KPS, Doosan Enerbility, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, and Samsung C&T. Team Korea will be responsible for the replacement of major and auxiliary equipment, construction of radioactive waste storage facilities, and other key infrastructure works.
The Cernavoda Unit 1 facility improvement project is considered a highly challenging initiative aimed at the long-term operation (LTO) of an aging nuclear power plant. With the participation of numerous global companies, it is crucial to maintain strong schedule connectivity between processes, and completing the construction precisely on schedule is a key factor determining the success of subsequent facility upgrades. HanmiGlobal plans to implement a project management strategy that encompasses schedule, cost, and risk integration, as well as local regulatory compliance, claims management, and technical consulting.
HanmiGlobal has systematically prepared for entry into the global nuclear power market by acquiring UK-based PM specialist Walker Sime in 2022 and officially launching its dedicated nuclear power department last year. The company plans to strategically leverage Walker Sime’s European project experience and cost management expertise to expand its business not only in Europe but also in the Middle East and Asia.
Additionally, on July 18, HanmiGlobal signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for cooperation in the nuclear power business with Korea Electric Power Corporation Engineering & Construction Company (KEPCO E&C). The two companies agreed to strengthen collaboration across the entire nuclear power plant lifecycle, including large-scale nuclear power plants, small modular reactors (SMR), decommissioning, and radioactive waste management.
No Heesang, head of HanmiGlobal’s Nuclear Power Group, stated, "This contract is highly symbolic as it marks not just our overseas entry, but also Korea’s first contract in the overseas long-term operation market for aging nuclear power plants." He added, "HanmiGlobal will use this as a stepping stone to expand its business portfolio across the entire nuclear power plant lifecycle in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, developing a variety of business models."
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