Hyundai Engineering & Construction (Hyundai E&C) announced on Sept. 17 that it participated in the Poland Krynica Economic Forum as a member of a joint public-private South Korean delegation, where discussions were held with Eastern European countries on strategies for entering the next-generation small modular reactor (SMR) market.
According to Hyundai E&C, leaders of key nations expressed a strong interest in the SMR project based on the competitiveness of the K-nuclear program during the Poland Krynica Economic Forum held on the 14th (local time). In response to this, Hyundai E&C conveyed its commitment to actively cooperate in the establishment of next-generation energy infrastructure.
The company plans to actively utilize the cooperation framework to enter the Eastern European nuclear power sector through the “Nuclear Research and Development (R&D) and Research Reactor Cooperation Agreement” signed with the National Center for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) of Poland on the 12th. This includes establishing cooperation in areas such as nuclear R&D, research reactors, nuclear safety, nuclear technology, and personnel exchange.
Furthermore, Hyundai E&C is actively working on establishing a branch office in Warsaw by the end of the year as a forward base for its expansion into Eastern Europe. By maintaining close cooperation with local businesses, the company aims to secure opportunities for new nuclear projects, including core infrastructure contracts. It also plans to expand its SMR and nuclear projects to neighboring countries such as Lithuania, Romania, and Slovakia.
Hyundai E&C is in the process of pursuing the establishment of an office in Kyiv, Ukraine. The company plans to participate in energy infrastructure reconstruction projects, with a focus on the development of SMRs in Ukraine, leading the way in this endeavor.
In addition, Hyundai E&C, in partnership with the U.S. nuclear partner Holtec International, is progressing towards not only the pilot deployment but also the construction of 20 SMR-160 units in Ukraine, contributing to energy infrastructure reconstruction. In April, Hyundai E&C, Holtec International, and domestic public financial institutions signed a tripartite agreement during the government-led South Korea-U.S. Clean Energy Partnership, establishing a multifaceted support system for jointly exploring global nuclear projects.