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Agreements to cooperate on small modular reactors (SMRs) have been signed between South Korean and US companies during a visit by Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol to the USA. Doosan Enerbility and the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate with NuScale Power, while SK and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) have agreed to collaborate with TerraPower.

Date: Thursday, 27 April 2023
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Expansion-of-US-Korean-cooperation-on-SMRs

Even oil-rich companies of Middle East are eying reactors, as more nations announce plans for SMRs Russian troops occupied the Zaporizhzhia nuclear station, which was damaged by shelling. File photo courtesy IAEA. 2022 was a year of mega milestones for nuclear energy.

Countries around the world turned to nuclear as a reliable low-carbon energy source as they looked for ways to wean themselves off Russian imports and lower carbon emissions.

New plants began operating, deals for small modular reactors were signed and countries announced ambitious plans for new-build.

On the political front, US president Joe Biden signed into law new legislation that will help to finance struggling nuclear reactors and could save dozens from being shut down early. In Europe, the nuclear industry celebrated when members of the European parliament decided to “follow the science” and support legislation which includes nuclear in the bloc’s sustainable finance taxonomy for green investment.

Date: Tuesday, 10 January 2023
Original article: nucnet.org/news/five-major-developments-that-are-setting-the-stage-for-2023-and-beyond-1-1-2023

Global optimism ‘rising’ about potential of reactors to help achieve net zero emissions Fatih Birol (left) and Rafael Grossi at the International Atomic Energy Agency discussion on nuclear power at Cop27 in Egypt. Courtesy IAEA. Nuclear power is making “a strong comeback”, but the international financial community has so far “failed” to provide the level playing field needed for nuclear to help the world tackle its most pressing challenges, from climate change to sustainable development, International Energy Agency (IEA) executive director Fatih Birol told the Cop27 United Nations climate conference in in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

Birol told an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) discussion on nuclear power: “I don’t give them a passing grade.”

“Countries that were saying goodbye to nuclear power, they are rethinking their plans,” Birol said, adding that the IEA had been engaged in talks with both Belgium and Germany.

“We are very happy that both governments are now in the process of postponing their nuclear phaseout plans, understanding the role that nuclear plays in addressing this energy security challenge,” he said.

In addition, another group of countries is now considering extending the lifetime of their existing nuclear power reactors to respond to this challenge, which is one of the cheapest forms of low carbon power, Birol said. Still another group of countries are rolling out plans to build new reactors, including seemingly “surprising” ones such as the Netherlands and Poland as well as Japan and South Korea.

Date: Friday, 11 November 2022
Original article: nucnet.org/news/nuclear-making-strong-comeback-but-financial-community-has-failed-to-provide-level-playing-field-11-4-2022

Group to help develop next-generation reactor technologies TerraPower and GE-Hitachi technology are developing the Natrium reactor demonstration project. South Korea’s SK Group said it has signed a nonbinding agreement with the company founded by Bill Gates that is developing a new generation nuclear power reactor.

SK group said the agreement would “solidify the groupwide push to reduce carbon emissions”.

The conglomerate, which has interests in chemical and energy, did not disclose details for any specific investment in TerraPower. It said subsidiaries SK Inc and SK Innovation will jointly develop with TerraPower “next-generation technologies” needed for small modular reactors.

Unconfirmed press reports in South Korea said recently that SK Group was looking at an investment of up to 10% in TerraPower.

Date: Thursday, 26 May 2022
Original article: nucnet.org/news/sk-conglomerate-signs-agreement-with-bill-gates-terrapower-5-3-2022

South Korea's SK Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TerraPower of the USA to jointly develop "next-generational technologies" needed for small modular reactors (SMRs).

Date: Wednesday, 18 May 2022
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Korean-conglomerate-to-cooperate-with-TerraPower

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an executive order that outlines the government's position for the inclusion of nuclear energy in the Philippines' energy mix, taking into account economic, political, social and environmental objectives.

Date: Friday, 04 March 2022
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Philippines-relaunches-nuclear-energy-programme

US-based Holtec International and Hyundai Engineering & Construction want to deliver SMR-160 projects worldwide. Courtesy Holtec. US-based Holtec International and Hyundai Engineering & Construction of South Korea have formalised an agreement for completion of the standard design of the SMR-160 small modular reactor plant and delivery of SMR-160 projects worldwide.

Hyundai will perform the detailed design of the balance of plant and prepare the full plant construction specification for the SMR-160, an SMR unit that has been under development by Holtec since 2010.

Holtec said the companies will cooperate to provide project financing and are committed to delivering SMR-160 projects on a turnkey basis and at a competitive price.

The SMR-160 is an advanced pressurised water reactor that produces up to 160 MW electric power and is designed with flexibility to produce process heat for industrial applications and hydrogen.

Date: Friday, 26 November 2021
Original article: nucnet.org/news/holtec-and-hyundai-to-cooperate-on-design-of-smr-160-11-4-2021

Policymakers who ignore nuclear energy are not serious about meeting climate goals, delegates said at an Atlantic Council webinar last week. The first in the Raising Ambitions series, the event highlighted the attributes of this clean source of electricity and heat ahead of the Leaders’ Climate Summit, which the US Administration is hosting on 22-23 April.

Date: Tuesday, 13 April 2021
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Nuclear-power-can-help-raise-climate-ambitions

Innovation has always been at the heart of the nuclear power industry and its future depends on this commitment to technological advancement in both large and small reactor designs. This was the message of the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC) General Ministerial Conference held in Washington DC last week.

Date: Tuesday, 19 November 2019
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Conference-Advancing-the-rebirth-of-nuclear-power