korean nuclear technology makes a successful entry into european market

- kaeri began manufacturing core equipment to improve research reactors in the netherlands -
- a stable collaborative system has been established with local dutch companies -

As korea’s first nuclear research and development project entering into the european market, the oyster project to improve research reactors in the netherlands has proceeded well. on july 31, the korea atomic energy research institute (president, jaejoo ha) announced that it had executed a contract to proceed with the second phase of the oyster project. to perform the project underway, kaeri will be supplying the major core equipment and auxiliary system equipment to the netherlands commencing in august.

※ scheduled to be completed by the end of 2019, the oyster project aims to build cold neutron research facilities in research reactors operated by delft university of technology in the netherlands. in 2014, a consortium of kaeri, hyundai engineering, and hyundai e&c won a successful bid for the project for a total contract price of krw 26.5 billion, making the first entry into the european market with korea’s nuclear technology.
※ oyster: optimized yield for science, technology, education of radiation

The kaeri consortium completed the project’s first phase for the fundamental design in october 2015. upon verifying the design outcomes with delft university during the following year and four months and negotiating a contract for specific terms of performance, the consortium launched the second-phase project in march 2017 to manufacture, install, and test run the actual equipment. in the second phase, kaeri is supplying the major core equipment and auxiliary system equipment d on the outcomes of the previous stage. detailed design and manufacturing will begin in korea in august for equipment within the tank, beam tubes, reactor protection system, and other major core equipment. the manufacture of auxiliary systems and construction of related buildings will begin in october 2017 in partnership with local companies in the netherlands.

Kaeri is planning to select korean bidders during august to manufacture and supply major core equipment. business related to auxiliary systems and general construction will be conducted with royal haskoning dhv, an engineering consulting business. contracts will also be executed with other dutch companies for respective tasks: krevber bv to supply pressure vessels, vacuum boxes, and hydrogen boxes; dh industries bv to supply helium freezers; demaco to supply cryogenic double valves; and struckton infratechnieken bv for construction and installation. this represents a stable business model to collaborate with local companies with abundant field experience and resources to supply logistics and ensure maintenance. this practice is expected to improve the business momentum in years to come and strengthen competitiveness in the european market.

“The successful performance of the oyster project will ensure continued joint research and technical exchange between kaeri and the netherlands,” said researcher sang-ik wu, the head of the research reactor development team. “with heightened reliability of korea’s nuclear technology, oyster is expected to contribute to additional exports to build research reactors in the netherlands.” delft university plans to use cold neutron research facilities provided by kaeri to develop new drugs and original technology in the fields of bioscience, nanotechnology, and new materials, in an effort to solidify its position as a leading research institution in europe.

※ progress of oyster project
• april 2, 2013: pre-qualification passed.
• april 14, 2014: official technology proposals submitted. 
• june 6, 2014: selected as the preferred bidder.
• november 3, 2014: signing ceremony held for official contract.   
• october 20, 2015: first-phase project (fundamental design) completed.
• february 23, 2017: contract executed to perform the second-phase project (manufacturing, installation, test runs).
• march 1, 2017: second-phase project launched.
• december 31, 2019: second-phase project and the entire oyster project to be completed.