Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) successfully held the "2nd Korea-Czech Energy International Joint Research and Technology Exchange" with UJP, a Czech company specializing in the design and manufacture of nuclear power plant components, from August 21 to August 24 at the KHNP Central Research Institute in Daejeon.
The technical exchange was held for the second time this year, following the first in April, as the Korean and Czech ministries of trade, industry and energy decided to support a joint research project to develop accident-resistant nuclear fuel.
The research project, which began in January and will last for three years, includes not only the development of accident-resistant nuclear fuel but also technology exchange in the field of nuclear reactors, digital ergonomics, and comparison of technical standards.
In addition to the host organization, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, and the Korea Institute of Nuclear Energy are participating in the joint research, while the Czech Republic is hosted by UJP and includes the Czech Technical University and MABAVE.
More than 30 experts in the nuclear field from both countries participated in the technical exchange and held heated discussions and communications on mutual technology familiarization and project implementation directions. In particular, the Czech researchers confirmed the competitiveness and excellent facilities of Korea's nuclear power plants by directly inspecting the research facilities and sites of the domestic consortium participants, including the construction sites of Saeul Units 3 and 4 and the infrastructure for testing accident-resistant nuclear fuel.
"Through exchanges with Czech researchers, we expect to further strengthen bilateral industry-academia-research cooperation in nuclear energy R&D, and contribute to the development of the nuclear industry and overcoming the energy crisis in the future through continued cooperation," said Dr. Shin Seong-cheol, head of the Korea Electric Power Research Institute (KEPRI).
