Seoul: A South Korean-led consortium has clinched a contract to carry out the initial design phase of a U.S. research reactor project, as announced by the science ministry. This marks the first instance of South Korea exporting its reactor technology to the United States.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the consortium, which includes the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Hyundai Engineering Co., and U.S. nuclear power engineering firm MPR, signed an agreement with Missouri University. This agreement pertains to the early stage of the Next Generation Missouri University Research Reactor (NextGen MURR) project, as stated by the Ministry of Science and ICT.
The initial phase, referred to as the “design study package,” aims to assess the conditions of the construction site for the 20-megawatt thermal reactor and conduct an environmental effect assessment. Lim In-cheol, KAERI Executive Vice President, expressed the consortium’s intent to pursue the subsequent stage deal for the reactor’s basic design after completing the design study package over six months.
The ministry recognized South Korea’s success in securing the Missouri reactor deal as a significant milestone for the nation, which began developing its nuclear reactor capabilities by adopting a research reactor from the U.S. in 1959. The consortium was chosen as the preferred bidder for the project in July 2024.
Research reactors, unlike nuclear plants designed for electricity generation, produce radioactive isotopes for medical treatments and other materials using neutrons from uranium’s nuclear fission process. The South Korean government intends to formulate a strategy to export additional Korean-made small modular reactors and research reactors globally.
“There is a growing demand for research reactors in countries interested in nuclear power plants, along with a rising demand for replacing decades-old reactors,” Lim noted. He anticipates securing deals to supply research reactors to African countries with an interest in Korean technology.
Currently, 227 research reactors operate across 54 countries, with over 70 percent exceeding four decades in age. The ministry predicts the need for approximately 50 replacement reactors over the next 20 years.
Regarding concerns about the U.S.’ recent designation of South Korea as a “sensitive country,” Lim does not foresee major impacts on future U.S. deals. “The Missouri deal was signed post-designation, and the consortium is expected to secure the basic design deal barring extraordinary events,” he said.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reported that the previous administration added South Korea to the DOE’s Sensitive and Other Designated List in January, a list that also includes North Korea, China, and Russia.