Nuclear Export to Europe
The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) Consortium, which received an order for an improvement project from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, is working on the construction of power uprating and cold neutron facilities for an experimental nuclear reactor.
South Korea obtained an order for the OYSTER Project, to enhance an experimental atomic reactor worth 25 billion won (US$23.2 million), which is to be pushed ahead by Netherlands.
The reactor improvement project is to remodel the experimental nuclear reactor that is run by Delft University of Technology, and construct cold neutron research facilities by the beginning of 2018. The contract value is 25 billion won (€19 million).
Only seven countries are operating facilities for researching cold neutrons, including France, the U.S., Germany, Australia, Japan, Hungary, and Russia. The research facility of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) for cold neutrons ranks third in quality following France and the U.S.
President Park Geun-hye and King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander held a summit at the Presidential office of Cheongwadae on Nov. 3 and discussed plans for cooperation, including nuclear power.
On the same day, KAERI and Delft University of Technology signed an MOU that reinforced research cooperation in radiation safety, the development of nuclear reactor technology, experimental nuclear reactors, management of radioactive waste, usage of nanomaterials and radiation technology, nuclear medicine, and isotopes.
President Park also requested the King of the Netherlands to give the opportunity to participate in Pallas Project, which is another project of modifying an experimental atomic reactor that will be carried out by the Netherlands.
Furthermore, both countries signed anther MOU for brain research cooperation between the Korea Brain Research Institute and the Netherlands’ Brain Bank, to share slices of diseased brain tissue and nurture experts in neurohistology and pathology.