Hyundai E&C, KAERI partner to commercialize next-gen reactors

Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. (Hyundai E&C) announced on Wednesday that it signed a public-private partnership agreement for the sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) development project with the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) on June 11.

The SFR is a type of reactor that uses fast neutrons for fission, unlike light-water reactors that use thermal neutrons, and it employs liquid sodium as a coolant.

It's recognized as a fourth-generation reactor due to its high efficiency, sustainability, and safety.

It recycles spent nuclear fuel, enhancing uranium utilization and reducing the amount of high-level radioactive waste.

Under the agreement, both parties will collaborate on various aspects of the SFR project, including development, domestic and international demonstration projects, commercialization and export, joint research and intellectual property (IP) technology transfer, and mutual personnel support and consultation frameworks.

The goal is to lay the groundwork for the advancement and commercialization of SFR technology, thereby boosting the industrial competitiveness of fourth-generation reactors.

Following the signing of a strategic business agreement in 2022, the two entities have been actively engaged in joint endeavors across multiple domains, including light-water reactor-based SMRs, molten salt reactors (MSRs), nuclear plant decommissioning, and nuclear-powered hydrogen production.

Write to Eun-Ji Shim at summit@hankyung.com