Government to Strengthen Nuclear Power Cooperation with Romania... Agreement to Establish Public-Private 'Nuclear Industry Dialogue Forum'

by Ju Sangdon

Published 23 Apr.2024 16:00(KST)

Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy Signs Memorandum of Understanding on Nuclear Power Cooperation with Romania's Ministry of Energy

South Korea and Romania have agreed to strengthen nuclear power cooperation, including the establishment of a 'Nuclear Industry Dialogue' involving both the public and private sectors.

On the occasion of Romanian President Klaus Iohannis's visit to South Korea, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 23rd that Minister An Deok-geun and Romanian Minister of Energy Sebastian-Ioan Burduja signed a 'Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Nuclear Power Cooperation' in the presence of the two heads of state.

Anduk Geun, Minister of Industry and Energy. (File photo)

In the signed MOU, the two countries designated key cooperation areas such as nuclear power facility improvement, safety equipment, supply chains for materials and equipment, nuclear fuel, small modular reactors (SMRs), and radioactive waste management. They also agreed to establish a Nuclear Industry Dialogue involving both public and private sectors. With a mid- to long-term institutional cooperation framework at the government level now in place, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy expects accelerated discussions on cooperation across a wide range of fields in the future.

Romania, in its 2022 energy strategy (2022?2030), presented nuclear energy as a future alternative and is currently promoting projects such as the improvement of Unit 1 at the Cernavod? Nuclear Power Plant and the introduction of SMRs to support its nuclear expansion policy.

Additionally, Minister An met with the Romanian Minister of Energy in the afternoon to share energy policies and discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in energy, including nuclear power. The two countries pledged to make their best efforts to successfully complete the construction project of the tritium removal facility at the Cernavod? Nuclear Power Plant, which Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power secured last June. They also agreed to further expand the scope of nuclear cooperation to include the improvement of Unit 1 at the Cernavod? Nuclear Power Plant and nuclear fuel supply chains. Furthermore, both countries committed to promptly holding the Nuclear Industry Dialogue within the year to ensure thorough follow-up on the summit meeting.