Thursday, 9 January 2025
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The Memorandum of Understanding on Principles Concerning Nuclear Exports and Cooperation finalises a provisional understanding reached in November. It was signed in the presence of South Korea’s Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun and US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, who said on X: “Today, the United States and Republic of Korea reaffirmed our shared commitment to advancing peaceful nuclear energy. Together, we’re enhancing energy security, tackling the climate crisis, and ensuring a safer world.”
The two countries have worked together on civil nuclear power for more than 70 years, the respective ministries said in a joint statement. “The cornerstone of this cooperation reflects the two countries’ mutual dedication to maximising the peaceful uses of nuclear energy under the highest international standards of nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and non-proliferation.
“This MoU continues to build upon this long-standing partnership and provides a framework for the parties to cooperate in expanding civil nuclear power in third countries while strengthening their respective administration of export controls on civil nuclear technology. It will also provide a pathway to help both countries keep up with the emergence of new technologies in this sector.”
Clearing the export path?
The agreement is seen as significant for South Korean nuclear exports to other countries. In August 2024, Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power was selected by the Czech government as its preferred bidder to build up to four new nuclear power units in the country. South Korea’s APR1000 nuclear power plant is based on original technology from Westinghouse, a US company, so exports of the Korean reactors must also go through US export consent or notification procedures.
There has been an on-going dispute between Westinghouse and KHNP over the issue of intellectual property rights, which is the subject of international arbitration, a process which Westinghouse says is not expected to conclude before the second half of 2025.
The new MoU could pave the way for US governmental consent for the Czech nuclear power plant deal, with negotiations with Westinghouse becoming much more straightforward. “This has become an opportunity to strengthen export control cooperation by establishing an information sharing system for transferring civilian nuclear power technology to third countries,” a Korean Trade Ministry official told the Korea JoongAng Daily. “As a ‘global comprehensive strategic alliance’, we expect it to promote mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in the global market in the future.”
Citing South Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, Korea.net reported that the country’s acting president, Choi Sang Mok, told Czech Prime Minister Petr Filala on 8 January that the country intends to “smoothly proceed with major cooperation projects between our two sides like the construction of a nuclear power plant in Dukovany and diplomatic affairs like high-level exchanges”.
