South Korean (S.K.) engineering firm Doosan Enerbility has just signed a binding agreement with the International Nuclear Non-proliferation and Cooperation Centre (INC) at S. K.’s KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School to cooperate on the expansion of nuclear exports.
     The agreement was signed on the 26th of December during a ceremony attended by representatives from both parties. The attendees included Joo-ho Whang, President of the Educational Foundation at KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School (KINGS); Chang-lak Kim, Acting President of KINGS; Yong-soo Hwang, Head of the International Nuclear Non-proliferation and Cooperation Centre and Jongdoo Kim, CEO of Doosan Enerbility’s Nuclear Business Group.
     With the signing of the agreement, Doosan Enerbility and INC agreed to cooperate on pursuing the expansion of nuclear exports and reinforcing the global nuclear non-proliferation efforts. Cooperation will be pursued on developing export policies and cultivating a supportive environment. These include bolstering nuclear partnerships with the U.S. in the area of nuclear security and strengthening the domestic supply chain in S.K.
      In response to the surging electricity demanded by AI data centers, cooperation will also be pursued in the areas of small modular reactor (SMR) technology development and supply chain establishment. Joint efforts will also be made in developing a nuclear non-proliferation culture that promotes peaceful applications of nuclear energy.
     Doosan Enerbility stated that “The agreement focuses on creating a favorable export environment based on non-proliferation efforts and developing an export strategy through South Korea-US cooperation. This investment initiative exemplifies our commitment to sustain the nuclear industry by closely collaborating with the academic community.”
     The INC was established by KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School in July 2024. It is engaged in various cooperation initiatives with the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and Sandia National Laboratories. The INC’s focus is on developing strategies for the overall nuclear exports process. Its coverage will range from large nuclear power plants and SMRs to nuclear decommissioning and spent nuclear fuel management. It is currently working on developing strategic partnerships with a variety of institutions at home and abroad to establish a broad cooperative framework.
     Doosan Enerbility’s Jongdoo Kim said, “This agreement will play a significant role in contributing to the international community’s nuclear non-proliferation efforts and enhancing the competitiveness of our nuclear exports. We plan to continuously work in collaboration with the INC and will seek to further solidify the position held by Korea’s nuclear industry in the global nuclear energy market.”
     In July of 2022, the S.K. government announced a new energy policy which is intended to maintain nuclear power’s share of the country’s energy mix at a minimum of thirty percent by 2030. It also has a goal of exporting ten nuclear power plants by 2030, as well as the development of a Korean SMR design.
     In August of 2020, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, Doosan Enerbility and nuclear energy equipment and materials manufacturers with the intent of revitalizing the S.K.’s nuclear industry. The MoU aims to increase the competitiveness of the nuclear industry ecosystem through shared growth, collaborating to contribute to carbon neutrality, responding to the energy crisis and stabilization of power supply. The industry plans to cooperate to create new jobs, develop joint technologies, exchange manpower and expand exports.

Doosan Enerbility