South Korean Nuclear Power: South Korea Achieves Its First Export of Research Reactor to the U.S. in 66 Years
South Korea has exported the design scheme of a research reactor [research reactor] to the United States, a country leading in nuclear technology. Sixty-six years after importing research reactors with the help of the U.S., South Korea has successfully achieved reverse exports. The South Korean government stated that "this is a case proving that even when designated as a sensitive country, the Sino-American technological alliance relationship remains undamaged."
According to news from the Ministry of Science and ICT on the 17th, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute consortium signed an initial design contract for the "Next Generation Research Reactor Project (NextGen MURR Project)" ordered through international competitive bidding by the University of Missouri in the U.S. The consortium, led by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, consists of experienced Hyundai Engineering Company and American engineering consulting company MPR. This consortium was established after the announcement of the tender notice in April 2023.
The export involves the preliminary design scheme of the next-generation research reactor planned to be built by the University of Missouri. The construction of a research reactor usually begins with the preliminary design (the first stage), analyzing pre-construction information such as site conditions and environmental impact assessments, then moves to the second stage of conceptual and basic design, and finally reaches the third stage of obtaining permits and construction. In a press conference, the vice president of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, who leads the consortium, Rhee In-cheol, stated that "the scale of the initial design contract for the first stage is approximately $10 million [about 14.1 billion won], and subsequent stages are likely to have continuous orders, so the scale of future contracts may be larger."
Currently, the University of Missouri operates the largest 10 megawatt (MW) research reactor in the United States. Unlike nuclear reactors used for power generation, research reactors use neutrons produced by uranium fission to produce new medical substances or conduct research. The University of Missouri mainly produces medical radioactive isotopes (unstable nuclei that release rays) through its research reactor and supplies them to hospitals across the United States for cancer treatment. This time, the university plans to add a new 20 MW next-generation nuclear reactor to operate alongside existing facilities.
The significance of this export contract lies in the recognition of South Korea's nuclear technology by the leading country in nuclear reactors. Lee Chang-rin, the first deputy minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated that "South Korea's nuclear energy research started under the support of the United States and has now achieved reverse exports to the United States through continuous investment and research and development (R&D)." South Korea's nuclear technology development began in 1959 with the introduction of a 0.1 MW research reactor "Triga Mark-2" from the United States. In 1995, South Korea independently constructed a 30 MW research reactor "Hanul," and is currently constructing a new research reactor in Masan City, Busan. Based on the experience of independently building research reactors, South Korea began exporting related research reactor technologies to countries such as Malaysia, Jordan, Bangladesh, and the Netherlands since the 2010s, accumulating rich experience. Rhee In-cheol explained that "there were seven consortia or individual enterprises competing at the time, including the American New Scale Company and Argentina's INVAP, and the technical strength of the 'high-performance research reactor fuel' developed by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and past project execution experiences became the driving force for winning the bid."
This contract was signed after the effectiveness of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) designating South Korea as a "sensitive country" came into effect on the 15th. The U.S. designated sensitive countries due to concerns over national security, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, and support for terrorism, imposing restrictions on research cooperation and technology sharing. Lee Chang-rin stated that "this contract has confirmed the previous position of the U.S. side, that even if South Korea is designated as a sensitive country, the technological alliance relationship between South Korea and the U.S. will not be damaged." He also mentioned that "efforts are currently underway to negotiate the resolution of ambiguities regarding sensitive countries." Joo Han-gyu, the president of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, who is visiting the U.S. for this export contract, stated that "even after South Korea was designated as a sensitive country on the 15th, our institute still signed a memorandum of understanding with a research institute under the U.S. Department of Energy and concluded a research reactor export contract," and he also introduced the local situation afterward.
The South Korean government plans to take advantage of this contract signing to actively enter the global research reactor market. According to the Ministry of Science and ICT, more than 70% of the currently operating research reactors worldwide have been running for over 40 years and are aging. It is expected that about 50 research reactors will be needed within the next 20 years. The Ministry of Science and ICT will release the "Research Reactor Export Promotion Strategy" in June.
Source: JoongAng Ilbo
Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1829746958747913/
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