Daewoo E&C Challenging Czech Nuclear Power Plant Contract Receives 'Nuclear Supply Chain Quality Management System' Certification

by Sim NaYoung

Published 26 Apr.2024 11:06(KST)

Proving Nuclear Business Safety and Quality Management Capabilities to Target the Czech and Polish European Nuclear Power Market

Daewoo E&C CEO Baek Jeong-wan (left) and TUV SUD Korea CEO Seo Jeong-wook (right) attending the ISO 19443 certification award ceremony

Daewoo E&C announced on the 26th that it has become the first domestic construction company to receive the Nuclear Supply Chain Quality Management System (ISO 19443) certification.

The certificate awarding ceremony held the day before at the Euljiro headquarters was attended by Baek Jeong-wan, CEO of Daewoo E&C, Kim Young-il, Head of Safety and Quality Division, Bae Yong-ju, Executive Officer in charge of Safety and Quality, and Seo Jeong-wook, CEO of T?V S?D Korea.

ISO 19443 is a nuclear quality management system designed to improve safety and quality across the entire nuclear supply chain organization. It is issued by T?V S?D, a global certification body based in Europe. ISO 19443 can be applied to all suppliers providing products and services important to nuclear safety (ITNS).

Currently, major nuclear power operating countries in Europe require obtaining ISO 19443 as a prerequisite for supplying nuclear power plant equipment and services. Daewoo E&C proactively acquired ISO 19443 in preparation for expanding domestic and international bidding qualification requirements, starting with the Czech nuclear power project currently under bidding.

ISO 19443 places particular emphasis on nuclear safety culture, highlighting leadership that fosters nuclear safety culture, sufficient consideration of nuclear safety in decision-making, transparent communication, and continuous improvement through learning.

Since July 1991, when it began the main equipment construction for Wolsong Units 3 and 4, the only domestic heavy water reactor nuclear power plants, Daewoo E&C has carried out about 30 nuclear-related projects to date. In addition, in 2017, it completed the Jordan Research Reactor, the first export project in Korea, successfully completing the country’s first nuclear EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) project by a private company. Based on this, Daewoo E&C is currently serving as the lead company in the construction of a new export research reactor in Gijang-gun, Busan.

A Daewoo E&C official stated, “Through acquiring ISO 19443 certification, Daewoo E&C will establish a nuclear safety culture and continuously improve related processes.” He added, “Based on Daewoo E&C’s outstanding nuclear project safety and quality management capabilities, we will definitely secure the new nuclear power plant contract in the Czech Republic.”