In Tandem with KEPCO, KAERI
Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction announced on June 3 that it has signed an agreement with KEPCO E&C and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute on cooperation in projects related to management of spent nuclear fuel.
Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction has the technology to design and manufacture spent fuel storage containers (casks), while KEPCO E&C is capable of designing each phase in the management of spent fuel rods. The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute has the capability to research and develop spent fuel management systems. The three players decided to cooperate in promoting projects related to the transportation, storage and disposal of spent nuclear fuel.
According to Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction, the number of spent nuclear fuel bundles generated from nuclear power reactors currently in operation and under construction in Korea is estimated at 63,000. About 3,000 sets of storage containers are needed to handle these spent nuclear fuel bundles. Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction forecasts that they will form a 12-trillion-won market and some 50 SMEs in Korea will have opportunities to take part in the project.
"This agreement has laid the groundwork for Korean companies and organizations’ leading the spent fuel market," said representatives of Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction, KEPCO E&C and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute including Na Ki-yong, vice president of Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction.