ENEC and KEPCO to explore co-development of international nuclear energy plants

Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and Korea Electric Power Cooperation (KEPCO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bolster research and investment opportunities in nuclear energy in emerging countries.

Through this initiative, both parties will explore co-investing in the establishment of nuclear energy plants globally and seek to address the instrumental role nuclear energy plays in addressing climate change and achieving Net Zero targets.

The ceremony, which took place in Seoul, Republic of Korea, included an MoU exchange between Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ENEC and Dong-Cheol Kim, President and CEO of KEPCO.

This partnership marks the next step in the two nations’ collaboration to spearhead nuclear energy development in other countries by providing the relevant expertise to accelerate the deployment of this crucial source of clean baseload electricity.

The agreement builds on ENEC’s and KEPCO’s expertise in various fields, including the efficient, safety and quality-led development and implementation of nuclear energy plants, and the significant transmission and distribution infrastructure required to integrate into national grids.

Strengthening global nuclear infrastructure

Originally established in 1898, KEPCO is the largest electric power company in the Republic of Korea providing the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity across the country, with more than 40 years of experience in the nuclear energy industry.

ENEC is playing a key role in accelerating the clean energy transition through decarbonising the UAE’s energy and intensive energy and hard-to-abate industries through the Barakah Plant, the Arab World’s first multi-unit operational nuclear energy plant.

The Barakah Plant, with full-fleet commercial operations forecast to commence later in 2024, will generate 40 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity per year while simultaneously preventing the release of 22.4 million tons of carbon emissions.

The plant is the flagship project of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program, with ENEC now focused on exploring opportunities in the UAE and overseas in large-scale plants, SMRs and advanced reactors, related clean technologies such as hydrogen generation and R&D to maximise the full value of the expertise developed in nuclear mega project program delivery, capacity building and technology deployment.