Korea-US Strengthen Nuclear Cooperation with First Result... KHNP and US Centrus Sign 'Enriched Uranium Supply' Contract

On the 4th (local time), Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) signed an enriched uranium supply contract with Centrus, a U.S. nuclear fuel supplier, in Washington, D.C. The contract period is 10 years.

A KHNP official stated, "With this contract, KHNP has diversified its suppliers of enriched uranium used as nuclear fuel, thereby enhancing the stability of fuel supply." He added, "This contract is particularly noteworthy as the first tangible achievement in nuclear cooperation between Korea and the U.S. since the inauguration of the second Trump administration." KHNP expects this contract to serve as an opportunity to strengthen overall cooperation between the nuclear sectors of both countries, beyond energy resource security and nuclear fuel supply chain reinforcement.

Hwang Ju-ho, President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (left), and Amir Beksler, CEO of Centrus, are taking a commemorative photo after signing a enriched uranium supply contract on the 4th (local time) in Washington DC, USA.

Centrus is the only company authorized by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to produce high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) used as fuel for next-generation nuclear reactors and small modular reactors (SMRs). In November 2023, Centrus succeeded in the initial production of 20kgU (kilograms of uranium) of HALEU at its facility in Piketon, Ohio, and has since entered annual mass production of 900kgU. Through this contract, KHNP has secured an opportunity to obtain fuel not only for existing commercial nuclear power plants but also for future reactors.

Hwang Ju-ho, President of KHNP, said, "This contract will play a crucial role in strengthening South Korea's energy security while securing a stable supply chain of enriched uranium." He added, "Through this, we can ensure the sustainability of nuclear power generation and further solidify South Korea's position in the global nuclear market."

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