Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) promoted SMART, the institute’s original small modular reactor (SMR) in the margin of the Global Energy Show 2023, held from 13 June to 15 June in Calgary, Canada. The KAERI experts, led by Dr. Lee Tae-ho, Senior Vice-President, participated in North America’s largest B2B exhibition and conference in the energy sector where businesses in oil, gas, hydrogen, nuclear, renewables and related sectors gather to share the most up-to-date trend and technology in the industries. It is the first time that KAERI joined the energy event. 

During the event, KAERI completed various engagements to advance SMR cooperations between Korea and Canada. Dr. Lee had an interview with Energy Connect and explained how SMART will help the net-zero transition of industries. He elaborated SMART is the most feasible SMR technology, ready for immediate deployment, and assured it is competitive enough to be applied to various industries, including oil sands. Emphasizing the importance of profitable business model and urgency of a new licensing framework for SMR, Dr. Lee envisioned SMART partnership will benefit both Korea and Canada through opening of new business, building of SMR supply chain and job creation.

In partnership with Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP), KAERI also set up an exhibition booth to display the present and future of Korea’s SMR technologies. The mock-ups of SMART and a future net-zero city operating with nuclear energy drew a lot attentions from visitors. The exhibition will help raise Canadian energy industries’ awareness of Korea’s SMR technology and facilitate Korean companies’ efforts to find business opportunities in Canada. KAERI has been teaming up with Korean companies, including Hyundai Engineering, to develop a SMART deployment project in Canada. In the meeting between KAERI and officials from the Government of Alberta, both sides discussed follow-up measures of the MoU, signed on 19 April, and reiterated that they will work closely together to facilitate private sectors’ SMART partnership. 

Throughout the three-day event, KAERI broadened network with various stakeholders and found the widely renewed interest in nuclear energy and SMR technology as a carbon-reduction alternative. Based on the outcomes of the activities, KAERI will keep working together with Korean and Canadian partners in order to advance SMR technologies.