“Russia has a long track record of cooperation with Korean nuclear companies. The first long-term contract for enriched uranium supplies to the Republic of Korea was made by TENEX back in 1998; the first memorandum was signed with KAIF as long ago as in 1991,” said Alexander Merten, President of Rusatom International Network.

The new memorandum is aimed at creating a favorable environment for partnerships between nuclear companies of the two countries. The parties agreed to share information, work on improving public acceptance of nuclear power and jointly develop human resources for the nuclear industry. RIN and KAIF will also intensify their joint efforts in promoting partnerships between Russian and Korean industry companies across different areas.

According to Alexander Merten, Rosatom works closely with Korean companies in nuclear fuel cycle operations, particularly through TENEX (Rosatom’s subsidiary and a major global uranium supplier) that continues to supply the Korean nuclear station operator Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co (KHNP) with enriched uranium under long-term contracts. Since 2015 TENEX has been using a new delivery route from Vostochny Port in the Russian Far East.

The Research Institute of Atomic Reactors (RIAR) and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) signed a contract last October to carry out research at the Russian BOR-60 fast reactor. Korea plans to irradiate experimental fuel elements designed for the Korean nuclear reactor, now under development. “The new contract is a cornerstone of scientific and technological cooperation between RIAR and KAERI and a logical continuation of the multi-year irradiation and test effort to support Korea’s SFR project,” said RIAR Director Alexander Tuzov when signing the contract.

“There are enormous opportunities to expand our cooperation into new, promising areas, and this memorandum can give a new push to our partnership”, Alexander Merten noted.

“Collaboration with RIN will facilitate development of our nuclear industries and promote experience sharing both in the nuclear fuel cycle and nuclear construction in Russia and Korea. KAIF is prepared to expand its cooperation with RIN on peaceful uses of nuclear energy”, said KAIF Executive Vice Chairman Kye-Hong Min.

Korea Atomic Industrial Forum (KAIF) was established in 1972. Its key mission is to develop the national economy and quality of life, promote commercial use of nuclear energy through networking, technology transfer and localization.