Ontario trade mission to Korea focused on nuclear industry

nuclear-industry-CANDU-reactor-Canada-Korea-trade-EDIWeekly

Ontario is looking to increase cooperation with South Korea in the nuclear energy industry. Ontario’s Minister of Research and Innovation, Reza Moridi, was part of a trade mission, along with the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCI), that went to Seoul to attend the thirtieth annual Atomic Power Conference in Seoul last week.

Korea currently has four CANDU reactors from Canada in its total complement of twenty-three. It plans to build eleven more reactors by 2024. A bi-lateral free trade deal between Canada and Korea came into effect in January and Moridi said he hopes it will lead to more activity in the nuclear energy sector. Korea operates more CANDU reactors than any other country except Canada, and nuclear reactor technology and uranium were among the top ten exports to Korea from Ontario last year.

Several important agreements were signed during the trade mission, according to a statement issued by OCI. They include deals for supply of reactor components and control systems for the country’s Candu reactors. Bruce Power and Ontario Power Generation announced signings of cooperation agreements with Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Company. The agreements cover the sharing of best practices for nuclear plant operations and for refurbishment projects. The CANDU Owners Group, with members in seven countries, concluded a “multi-million dollar agreement” for increased collaboration in research and development.

Canadian Nuclear Trade Mission to South Korea builds strong
Delegates on the Canadian nuclear trade mission to South Korea’s Atomic Power Conference in Seoul.

 

Speaking to the Korean newspaper Joongang Daily, Moridi attempted to downplay differences between the Koreans’ own light-water reactors and the Canadian-designed heavy-water CANDUs. He pointed out that Korea has a unique opportunity to develop its own hybrid nuclear technologies. “If Korea develops technologies to join the two, such technology can be Korea’s strength, which can also be exported to other countries. Korea will be the world’s first and only country that has such technologies,” Moridi said.

Moridi was also questioned about the problem of nuclear waste. The CANDU reactor, which uses heavy water, produces more nuclear waste than light-water reactors. Asked about better ways for Korea to manage its nuclear waste, Moridi replied that the country should use Canadian technologies to reuse spent fuels from its light-water reactors in the CANDU reactors. “Through this method, you can use the uranium fuel twice.” All that is required is some changes to policy and “technical adjustments” to connect the two systems.

Did you miss this?

Other Popular Stories

  • Government investment, weakening dollar, stronger US economy could spell relief for Canada's manufacturers
  • Ontario space firm wins $65 million satellite contract
  • Government urges aerospace innovation, adoption of new technologies
  • Toronto Hydro testing underwater energy storage system for backup power
  • Demand for 100K engineers over next ten years in Canada
  • Green building technology to grow annually by 10.12% to the year 2023
  • LNG activity heating up in BC as Petronas seeks export licence
  • Wind capacity reaches 82,183 megawatts in US, enough to power 24 million homes
  • Entire airframe of this V-shaped flying wing houses passengers and cargo resulting in 20 percent fuel savings
  • Engineers use captured carbon to create new form of concrete
  • "Disruptor" Designs May be the Future of Wind Turbines
  • First vehicle powered by sodium-ion battery shown in UK
  • Gardening in Space a Challenge for NASA
  • Rapid growth of solar power a challenge for utilities
  • Tesla now biggest car maker in California
  • Pembina set for biggest expansion in its history
  • MRO in space: Inside a routine Maintenance-Repair-and-Overhaul mission with NASA: sealing, lubricating and keeping cool
  • First Electric Car Day held at Queen's Park
  • Canada keeping up pressure on US for Keystone XL approval
  • Chinese market for water pumps expected to triple by 2017
Scroll to Top