Kazakhstan and South Korea to strengthen nuclear energy cooperation

Kazakhstan and South Korea to strengthen nuclear energy cooperation

Kazakhstan and South Korea will cooperate in the development of nuclear energy. The representatives of the two countries signed a memorandum. The day before, the Kazakh delegation, headed by Vice Minister of Energy Zhandos Nurmaganbetov, held talks with the representatives of the Trade Ministry of South Korea, a Korean nuclear energy corporation and other large companies. During the visit, the representatives of Kazakhstan will attend the local nuclear power plants and learn about the reactors’ operation. Korean technology was used for construction of nuclear power plants in the UAE. South Korea is currently negotiating nuclear projects with the Czech Republic, Poland, the Netherlands and Ukraine.

“Four power units are being constructed in Korea. Two of the four planned power units have been put into commercial operation in the United Arab Emirates. We can cooperate with Kazakhstan in many areas. First, in the field of nuclear power plant operation, we can build infrastructure and prepare human resources. I hope that the memorandum conclusion and the visit to our nuclear power plants will allow us to cooperate fruitfully,” opined Nam Yeo Shik, President of the Korean Nuclear Energy Corporation.

“Any country wants to choose the best possible conditions, technology, price and construction conditions. Kazakhstan is not an exception. We are currently working with partners from different countries. Rosatom Russian Atomic Energy Corporation is active in Kazakhstan as well as the EDF France. The prospective of constructing modular reactors is considered too. We would like the Korean side to intensify this work, and if you set the goal of exports to Europe and the countries you mentioned, then we could give serious consideration to the construction of a plant on the basis of Korean technology with your participation,” said Zhandos Nurmaganbetov, Kazakh Vice Minister of Energy.

 

 

Translation by Zhanna Smagulova

Editing by Galiya Khassenkhanova