Thursday, January 9, 2025
The signing of the agreement covering the export of nuclear technology was signed by the United States and South Korea on the same day that the leaders of South Korea and the Czech Republic reaffirmed their commitment to projects including the expansion of the Dukovany nuclear power plant.
_70673.jpg "South Korea and the US sign nuclear export memorandum 6")
The Memorandum of Understanding on Principles on Nuclear Exports and Cooperation finalizes the interim understanding reached in November. The signing took place in the presence of South Korean Industry Minister Ahn Deok-geun and US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, who said on We reaffirmed our shared commitment to advancing energy. Together, we will strengthen energy security, tackle the climate crisis and ensure a safer world.”
The two countries have cooperated on civil nuclear power generation for more than 70 years, their respective ministries said in a joint statement. “The foundations of this cooperation reflect the mutual commitment of both countries to maximizing the peaceful uses of nuclear energy under the highest international standards of nuclear safety, security, safeguards and non-proliferation. are.
“This Memorandum of Understanding further develops this long-standing partnership and provides the parties with a framework to cooperate in expanding civil nuclear power generation in third countries, while strengthening their respective controls on export controls regarding civil nuclear technology. Both countries are lagging behind the emergence of new technologies in this area. ”
Clear export path?
The agreement is seen as important for South Korea’s nuclear exports to other countries. In August 2024, Korea Hydro and Nuclear was selected by the Czech government as the preferred bidder to build up to four new nuclear power plants in the country. South Korea’s APR1000 nuclear power plant is based on the proprietary technology of Westinghouse Corporation of the United States, so exporting Korean-made nuclear reactors also requires going through export consent and notification procedures in the United States.
There is an ongoing dispute between Westinghouse and KHNP over intellectual property issues, which is the subject of international arbitration, but Westinghouse says the process is expected to be resolved by the second half of 2025. There is no such thing.
The new memorandum could make negotiations with Westinghouse easier and pave the way for U.S. government consent to the Czech nuclear power plant deal. “This was an opportunity to build an information sharing system for transferring civil nuclear technology to third countries and strengthen export control cooperation,” an official from the South Korean Ministry of Trade told Korea JoongAng Ilbo. “As a ‘global comprehensive strategic alliance’, it is expected to promote mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in the global market in the future.”
Korea.net, citing a report by South Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, said that Czech Acting President Choi Sang-mok told Czech Prime Minister Petr Filara on January 8, “We intend to smoothly proceed with major cooperation projects between the two countries.” “Yes,” he reportedly said. Diplomatic issues such as the construction of a nuclear power plant in Dukhovany and high-level exchanges. ”
