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South Korea Reassesses New Nuclear Power Plant Construction Amid Rising AI Electricity Demand

On September 8, South Korea's Minister of Climate and Energy Environment, Kim Sung-hwan, stated in an interview that due to the expansion of the artificial intelligence industry, South Korea's future electricity demand is expected to increase by 25 to 30 gigawatts. The government is reassessing the possibility of constructing new nuclear power plants and plans to announce the 12th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand next month. Kim Sung-hwan said the aforementioned additional demand mainly stems from Samsung Electronics and SK hynix expanding semiconductor production, as well as the construction of new AI data centers. As internal combustion engine vehicles transition to electric vehicles and the scope of electric heating replacing gas heating expands, South Korea's overall electricity demand will continue to grow. The South Korean government...

2026-09-09

Vietnam's Petrovietnam and Korea Electric Power Corporation Advance Cooperation on Ninh Thuan 2 Nuclear Power Project

On September 7, 2026, Vietnam's National Industry and Energy Group (Petrovietnam) and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) are accelerating cooperation in nuclear power research and development. On September 8, a delegation led by Petrovietnam General Director Le Manh Cuong held a working meeting in Seoul, South Korea with a delegation led by KEPCO Chairman and CEO Kim Dong-cheol, with both sides focusing on the implementation of the cooperation agreement in the nuclear power sector. Le Manh Cuong stated that Vietnam is taking measures to create conditions for the implementation of nuclear power projects. Previously, Petrovietnam and KEPCO signed a cooperation agreement witnessed by high-level leaders of both countries, demonstrating that nuclear power has become a key area of Vietnam-Korea cooperation...

2026-09-09

South Korea's Naver Introduces Nuclear Power-Specialized AI Hy-NuRI Cooperation Experience in France

According to South Korean media reports on September 9, Naver, a South Korean internet service company, introduced its case of developing the nuclear power-specialized AI "Hy-NuRI" in cooperation with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power while seeking to expand AI cooperation in France. Reports indicate that Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon and Naver Cloud CEO Kim Yoo-won recently met with heads of French companies and institutions in media, information technology, energy, transportation, and finance sectors to discuss cooperation directions such as AI infrastructure and industry-specialized AI. At the Korea-France Business Roundtable held in France on the 8th, Choi Soo-yeon stated that Naver hopes to cooperate around global AI infrastructure and industry-specialized AI with data sovereignty and security guarantees.

2026-09-09

South Korea and Westinghouse Electric Plan to Advance Cooperation on 8 Nuclear Power Plants in the U.S.

According to a September 9 report by South Korean media, South Korea and the United States are coordinating an investment cooperation plan to build up to 8 large-scale nuclear power plants in the U.S., with a total project scale of approximately $120 billion, equivalent to about 161 trillion Korean won. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) are expected to collaborate on the project. The report said the preliminary plans under discussion include: at least 2 of the 8 nuclear power plants using the Korean-designed APR1400 reactor, with the remaining units likely adopting Westinghouse AP1000 technology. Specific site selection, construction entities, operational arrangements, final reactor types...

2026-09-09

South Korea and France Agree to Deepen Nuclear Energy R&D and Nuclear Fuel Supply Cooperation

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, on a state visit to France, held a summit with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris on September 8. The two sides stated after the meeting that they would further expand cooperation in the nuclear energy sector, with a focus on nuclear energy R&D, nuclear fuel supply, next-generation reactor development, and mid- to long-term supply chain diversification. Lee Jae-myung said at a joint press conference that the two countries had signed supplementary documents on cooperation in nuclear energy R&D and nuclear fuel supply to deepen the nuclear energy cooperation agreement reached between the two nations in April. Both sides confirmed that they would continue to advance cooperation in next-generation reactor development and mid- to long-term supply chain diversification. According to related reports, the two countries also decided to establish a new...

2026-09-09

KHNP and France's Orano Expand Nuclear Fuel Supply Chain Cooperation

On September 8, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and France's Orano SA (Orano) signed a letter of intent for long-term cooperation in uranium enrichment at the Élysée Palace in Paris. The signing ceremony was witnessed by the leaders of both South Korea and France. This letter of intent represents a further extension of the existing cooperation between the two parties. In April this year, during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to South Korea, KHNP and Orano had signed a memorandum of understanding on global, mutually beneficial cooperation in the nuclear fuel cycle sector. Under the letter of intent, the two parties plan to deepen cooperation in the front-end of the nuclear fuel cycle. KHNP...

2026-09-09

South Korea's Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2 Shut Down Upon Expiration of Design Lifespan

South Korea's Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2 will cease operation upon the expiration of its 40-year design lifespan. Following the shutdown of this unit, two of the six units at the Hanbit plant will have been taken offline due to reaching the end of their design lifespans. Unit 2 of the Hanbit plant received its operating license on September 12, 1986, and commenced commercial operation on June 10, 1987. Based on a 40-year design lifespan, the unit's operating license remains valid until September 11, 2026. The operator plans to conduct periodic inspections and planned preventive maintenance after the unit is shut down. In accordance with relevant regulations, once a unit reaches the end of its design lifespan, it may not resume operation until its application for continued operation is approved, and it must undergo legally required inspections and maintenance, and...

2026-09-09

Two South Korean companies to collaborate on expanding fusion energy projects

KEPCO Engineering & Construction (KEPCO E&C) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Enable Fusion on September 7 at the Daejeon Science Center to establish a cooperation framework for participation in fusion energy projects, technology sharing, and joint business development. Kim Tae-kyun, President of KEPCO E&C, and Lee Kyung-soo, CEO of Enable Fusion, attended the signing ceremony. Under the MOU, the two parties will provide each other with technical and commercial information required for participation in the construction of fusion power facilities and jointly develop fusion energy projects both domestically and overseas. KEPCO E&C plans to...

2026-09-08

South Korea Notifies IAEA of Intention to Consult on Safeguards Arrangements for Nuclear-Powered Submarine

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said Monday at the agency's Board of Governors meeting in Vienna that South Korea has formally notified the IAEA of its intention to consult with the agency on safeguards arrangements for its envisioned nuclear-powered submarine program. Grossi stated that South Korea has notified the IAEA Secretariat of its intent to discuss relevant arrangements pursuant to Article 14 of its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA). This provision allows a country to use nuclear material for non-prohibited military purposes, such as naval nuclear propulsion, under arrangements concluded with the IAEA. It was noted that South Korea also reaffirmed its continued commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Comprehensive Safeguards Agre...

2026-09-08

South Korea's DuChemBio to Build Country's First Radiopharmaceutical CDMO Plant

South Korean radiopharmaceutical therapy company DuChemBio will build the country's first contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) plant dedicated to radiopharmaceuticals, in response to growing demand for radiopharmaceuticals used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and neurological diseases. DuChemBio is a subsidiary of healthcare distributor Geo-Young Group. The company recently signed an investment agreement with North Jeolla Province and the city of Jeongeup to invest KRW 34.3 billion (approximately USD 25.5 million) in building a new plant in Jeongeup. The company stated that this is the largest investment since Geo-Young acquired DuChemBio. According to the plan, the new facility will integrate radioisotope production...

2026-09-08

KHNP Hosts Nuclear Safety Culture and Leadership Workshop

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) announced on September 8 that it held the "2026 Nuclear Safety Culture and Leadership Enhancement Workshop" at its headquarters from September 7 to 8, with discussions focused on building a safety culture oriented toward nuclear power plant sites and strengthening management-level safety leadership. Approximately 40 people attended the workshop, including Cho Seok-jin, Vice President of Safety Technology at KHNP, as well as relevant officials from the headquarters and each nuclear power plant. Participants shared best practices and improvement items in safety culture development at each plant and discussed how to more effectively implement safety requirements in frontline operations and management processes. The workshop also covered major accident prevention...

2026-09-08

South Korea Calls on Vietnam to Support Korean Companies' Participation in Nuclear Power Plant Projects

According to the South Korean Prime Minister's Office, the Prime Minister recently met with the Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly, who was on an official visit to South Korea, at the Seoul Government Complex, where the two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and ways to expand cooperation. The South Korean side expressed its hope to promote the continued development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. During the talks, South Korea specifically requested that the Vietnamese National Assembly continue to pay attention to and support the resolution of difficulties faced by Korean energy companies operating in Vietnam, while creating favorable conditions for Korean companies to participate in infrastructure projects in Vietnam, including high-speed railways and nuclear power plants. The Vietnamese side stated that the Vietnamese National Assembly is continuously improving its legal and policy framework to create a better investment environment and welcomes Korean companies to pay attention to Vietnam's infrastructure...

2026-09-08

South Korean Companies Advance Nuclear Hydrogen Demonstration Project in Czech Republic

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) announced on September 8 that it has completed a joint research review with the Czech Hydrogen Association (HYTEP) on the legal, institutional, and policy environment for nuclear hydrogen production in the Czech Republic and the European Union, and exchanged views on advancing a clean hydrogen production demonstration project in the Czech Republic. The two sides held a results-sharing meeting on September 7 at Hwangnyongwon in Gyeongju, South Korea, to review the final outcomes of the research. The study, launched in September 2025 and spanning approximately 11 months, primarily examined policy directions, laws and regulations, certification requirements, and market access conditions in the nuclear and hydrogen sectors in the Czech Republic and the EU, providing an institutional basis for the implementation of nuclear hydrogen production projects. Based on the research findings, KHNP plans to promote a clean hydrogen production demonstration project integrated with nuclear power in the Czech Republic.

2026-09-08

Gyeongju City in South Korea Submits Key Requests to Government for Extension of Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant

Gyeongju City, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, stated on September 7 that it has submitted five key pending matters to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, covering nuclear power plants, support facilities for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste disposal, and water supply guarantees for the Hyeongsan River basin. On the same day, Gyeongju Mayor Joo Nak-young and National Assembly member Kim Seok-ki met with Minister Kim Sung-hwan of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment to explain the importance of the relevant projects to regional development and public welfare, and requested review and support at the central government level. Regarding support facilities for radioactive waste disposal...

2026-09-08

Korea and U.S. reportedly in talks to jointly build 8 large-scale nuclear power plants in the U.S.

According to the South Korean government and political figures on September 7, South Korea and the United States are in the final stages of discussions on a plan to jointly build up to 8 large-scale nuclear power plants in the U.S. The plan is seen as one of the follow-up projects under the Korea-U.S. investment arrangement in the U.S. Sources say the U.S. side had proposed allocating $120 billion of the $200 billion investment commitment to the construction of 8 nuclear power plants within the framework of investment in the U.S. An additional $150 billion in shipbuilding-related investment falls outside that commitment. However, the South Korean government reportedly did not accept the proposal to directly specify the exact investment amount, instead preferring to use general wording such as "jointly building 8 nuclear power plants" in relevant documents to preserve room for further coordination...

2026-09-08