Hyundai to Build Small Nuclear Power Plants in Uzbekistan
Hyundai Engineering to Export Small Modular Reactor Technologies
Hyundai Engineering, in collaboration with the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), is looking to export technologies for the creation of small modular nuclear reactors, reports Yonhap agency. The company has recognized the potential for building small reactors in Uzbekistan and highlighted their efficiency in relation to costs when compared to traditional nuclear power plants.
The agreement with KAERI outlines that the institute will be responsible for developing designs and licensing for future reactors, while Hyundai will handle business planning, financing, engineering, and construction work. The advanced modular reactors being considered are based on integrated systems (SMART), which KAERI has been developing since 1997 and utilize high-pressure water cooling systems.
These small reactors have the capacity to produce up to 110 MW of energy, while being only a fraction of the size of conventional reactors. Their compactness also allows for the possibility to be built in remote and mountainous areas, opening up opportunities for new energy sources in previously inaccessible locations.
In addition to Uzbekistan, Hyundai Engineering has also entered into an agreement to build a small reactor in the Canadian province of Alberta, with a feasibility study for the project currently in progress. A company spokesperson has expressed their interest in expanding operations to other countries such as the United States and India, following the success of the Canadian project.
This move by Hyundai Engineering comes as there is a growing interest in small nuclear power plants, with Russia also recently signing a memorandum with the Ministry of Energy of Kyrgyzstan for the construction of small nuclear power plants and plans to assist the republic in the development of nuclear infrastructure and training of qualified personnel. The future of nuclear energy production appears to be heading towards smaller, more efficient and cost-effective reactors, with potential global implications for energy generation.
