"3 Trillion Won" Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 Reactor Production Begins... Nuclear Ecosystem "Vitality"

Doosan Enerbility Starts Main Equipment Manufacturing Ceremony
Produces 23m Tall, 775t Steam Generator
Over 460 Domestic Partners Participate in Main Equipment Production
Park Ji-won: "Spreading Energy to Revitalize Nuclear Power Ecosystem"

Doosan Enerbility has officially started the manufacturing of main equipment for Shin Hanul Units 3·4. The government is moving beyond restoring and normalizing the nuclear power ecosystem to provide policy support aimed at securing a global competitive edge in the nuclear power industry.

Doosan Enerbility announced on the 15th that it held the ‘Shin Hanul 3·4 Main Equipment Manufacturing Commencement Ceremony’ at its headquarters in Changwon. Attendees at the event included Lee Chang-yang, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy; Kim Young-sun, member of the People Power Party; Kang Ki-yoon, member of the People Power Party; Choi Hyung-doo, member of the People Power Party; Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongsangnam-do; Hong Nam-pyo, Mayor of Changwon City; Hwang Ju-ho, President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power; Kim Sung-am, President of Korea Electric Power Technology; Kim Hong-yeon, President of KEPCO KPS; and representatives from the government, local governments, clients, and partner companies. Jeong Yeon-in, President of Doosan Enerbility, and Kim Jong-du, Head of the Nuclear BG, were also present.

At the event, Doosan Enerbility showcased the initial manufacturing site of the steam generator, one of the main equipment for Shin Hanul Units 3·4. The process involves forging approximately 200 tons of alloy steel produced through an in-house furnace using a 17,000-ton press to create the materials needed for the steam generator. The 17,000-ton press, measuring 23 meters in height and 8 meters in width, is the largest of its kind in the world among four-column presses. It performs forging with a force equivalent to 240,000 adult men pressing simultaneously.

The completed steam generator measures about 23 meters in height and weighs approximately 775 tons, equivalent to the weight of about 520 mid-sized cars. In addition, Doosan Enerbility will manufacture and supply other key equipment for Shin Hanul Units 3·4, including a reactor approximately 14.8 meters tall and weighing 533 tons, a turbine generator 70 meters long and weighing 3,110 tons, as well as nuclear power instrumentation and control equipment and reactor coolant pumps.

On March 29, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Lee Chang-yang, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy (center), Hwang Ju-ho, President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (right), and Jung Yeon-in, President of Doosan Enerbility, posed for a commemorative photo after signing the main equipment supply contract for Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Doosan Enerbility is collaborating with over 460 domestic nuclear power partner companies for the manufacturing of the main equipment. It plans to place orders with domestic partners for materials and parts required for the main equipment manufacturing, as well as for machining, pipe fabrication, heat treatment, and other processes needed during production. Approximately 32 billion KRW was pre-ordered last year, and this year orders worth about 220 billion KRW are being placed.

Park Ji-won, Chairman of Doosan Enerbility, stated, “We will strive to accelerate the revitalization of the nuclear power ecosystem and, through this, contribute to strengthening Team Korea’s competitiveness for overseas nuclear power exports.”

In March, Doosan Enerbility signed a supply contract worth approximately 2.9 trillion KRW with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power for the main equipment of Shin Hanul Units 3·4. Under this contract, Doosan Enerbility will manufacture and supply core main equipment such as reactors, steam generators, and turbine generators for Shin Hanul Units 3·4. The Shin Hanul Units 3·4, being constructed in Uljin-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, are scheduled for completion in 2032 and 2033, respectively.

The main equipment for Shin Hanul Units 3·4 will see faster fund execution compared to previous projects. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power will increase the first-year progress rate with Doosan Enerbility and expedite the payment of progress-based funds to improve the management conditions of nuclear power companies and maintain a healthy supply chain. KHNP also plans to shorten the contract period during the auxiliary equipment contracting process and increase advance payments to accelerate fund execution as much as possible.

Furthermore, the government plans to invest about 2 trillion KRW over the next five years in technology development focused on three core directions: future (SMR), market (export), and convergence (linkage) to secure a super-gap competitive edge throughout the entire nuclear power industry cycle. It will also promote policies to nurture high-level talent centered on universities and graduate schools and support workforce supply mainly for small and medium-sized enterprises, aiming to train 4,500 specialists by 2030.

Meanwhile, at the nuclear power ecosystem meeting chaired by Minister Lee Chang-yang on the same day, representatives from 10 partner companies supplying equipment to KHNP and Doosan Enerbility participated and exchanged opinions on building a sustainable and competitive nuclear power ecosystem.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.