Doosan to participate in NuScale SMR development

30 April 2019

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US small modular reactor developer NuScale Power has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction (DHIC) - part of South Korea's Doosan Group - for strategic cooperation to support deployment of the NuScale Power Module worldwide.

The signing of the MOU by NuScale Chairman and CEO John Hopkins (left) and Ki Yong Na, CEO of Doosan Nuclear Power Plant Business Group (Image: NuScale)

Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS) is planning the development of a 12-module plant at a site at the Idaho National Laboratory, which is expected to begin operation in 2026.

Under the terms of the MoU, DHIC - a manufacturer of nuclear pressure vessels - is expected to build a portion of the most critical and complex sub-assemblies for the plant under development for UAMPS.

NuScale said the agreement not only covers cooperation with DHIC, but "potential Korean financial investors, which, commensurate to final due diligence, plan to make a cash equity investment in NuScale".

The companies aim to close the strategic supplier agreement in July.

John Hopkins, chairman and CEO of NuScale Power, said: "NuScale welcomes this strategic relationship with DHIC - a leader in the global manufacturing industry. Through this relationship, we are not only broadening our supply chain base, but DHIC's potential investment will also be an endorsement of NuScale's strong position as a global SMR leader and our capability to deliver NuScale plants worldwide. We also welcome the interest from Korean financial investors."

He added, "Based upon the international interest in the NuScale design, it is anticipated that significant international capabilities will be needed to meet worldwide needs. DHIC is a highly capable partner to help NuScale meet these market demands."

Ki Yong Na, CEO of Doosan Nuclear Power Plant Business Group, said, "We are impressed with the simplicity, safety and cost-effectiveness of NuScale's design, and we look forward to collaborating with the company as they bring America’s first SMR to market. Furthermore, we see great potential for international applications of NuScale's carbon-free technology, and look forward to collaborating with NuScale as the company pursues additional opportunities."

NuScale's SMR technology features the self-contained NuScale Power Module, with a gross capacity of 200 MWt or 60 MWe. Based on pressurised water reactor technology, the scalable design can be used in power plants of up to 12 individual modules. The technology is undergoing design certification review by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

In March, an agreement was signed between NuScale and Romanian energy company Societata Nationala Nuclearelectrica SA to explore the use of SMRs in Romania. NuScale has also signed MoUs to explore the deployment of its SMR technology in Canada and Jordan.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News

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