Acting President Jeon Dae-uk of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power acknowledged that exporting nuclear power plants independently is difficult without cooperation from U.S. company Westinghouse when exporting reactors.
At the National Assembly's Trade. Industry Energy. SMEs. and Startups Committee audit held Oct. 20 at Kangwon Land in Jeongseon County, Gangwon, Acting President Jeon answered "Yes" to a question from Rep. Kim Jeong-ho of the Democratic Party of Korea: "Is it specified in the full text of the Westinghouse agreement that 'without complying with U.S. export control procedures through cooperation with Westinghouse, Korean-designed reactors will not be exported'?"
Rep. Kim said, "We have confirmed that it is entirely untrue that Korea Electric Power Corporation or KHNP has long insisted they could export independently with their own technology," adding, "It is specified in the full text of the agreement that 'the Korean-designed reactor was developed using Westinghouse technology.'" He then pointed out, "Isn't this deceiving and mocking the public?"
In response, Vice President Jeon said, "There were instances where the term 'technological independence' was used inconsistently, and there were practical limitations in the export process."
Rep. Kim also said, "We advertised that winning the Dukovany nuclear power plant in the Czech Republic would serve as a springboard for entry into Europe, but due to the agreement with Westinghouse, entering the European market is virtually impossible," and asked, "Having given up entry into Europe except for the Czech Republic and already voluntarily withdrawn from Sweden, Slovenia, the Netherlands, and Poland, is future independent entry into Europe possible?"
Vice President Jeon said, "It is impossible under the agreement," adding, "Places where independent entry is possible are Saudi Arabia, Asia, Africa, and South America."