Romania signed a memorandum with South Korea for cooperation in the field of nuclear energy

Romania and South Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, in the presence of the presidents of the two countries, informs the Ministry of Energy. The Memorandum of Understanding covers cooperation in the nuclear field, including the improvement of nuclear equipment, security equipment, nuclear fuel, small modular reactors (SMRs) and radioactive waste management.

The memorandum was signed on the occasion of the state visit to South Korea by the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis. He was accompanied by the Minister of Energy, Sebastian Burduja, who had a bilateral meeting with his counterpart Dukgeun Ahn.

Sebastian Burduja: Romania could become a European center for the production and export of tritium

The energy ministers of the two countries decided to expand cooperation for the development of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant and the fuel supply chain.

“This memorandum strengthens the partnership between Romania and the Republic of Korea. The main dimension of this collaboration is represented by the energy field, through several projects such as: the re-engineering of Unit 1 at CNE Cernavodă and the construction of the first detritus installation in Europe and the third in the world. The installation will give Romania the chance to become a European center for the production and export of tritium, a candidate fuel for future reactors based on nuclear fusion,” said the Minister of Energy, Sebastian Burduja.

The Koreans, interested in the SMRs from Doicești

The Republic of Korea is among the states that have expressed their interest in financing the Doicesti small modular reactor project.

However, in the last meeting of the Nuclearelectrica AGM, the Ministry of Energy abstained from voting for the continuation of the Doicești SMRs. He also did not vote for a partnership with a Korean company.

It was about concluding a direct partnership with DSPE BETA PRIVATE EQUITY FUND, a Korean investment fund, as an investor in the project company RoPower Nuclear SA