Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) has been cooperating with PVN of Vietnam to build local nuclear power supply chains.
KEPCO successfully wrapped up the Nuclear Power Supply Chain Cooperation Seminar with Vietnam’s state-run industry energy corporation PVN, the operator of the Ninh Thuan-2 nuclear power plant project, in Vung Tau, Vietnam, on March 31.
Ahead of the event, KEPCO, at the invitation of PVN, toured port facilities, operated by PTSC, a Vietnamese petroleum and gas technology service corporation of PVN, and Thi Vai LNG terminal to look into the possibility of building a local supply chain.
The seminar was attended by a “Team Korea” delegation, led by KEPCO. Delegates included KEPCO E&C, KEPCO KPS, KEPCO NF, Doosan Enerbility and Korea Nuclear Association for International Cooperation (KNA).
From Vietnam’s PVN side, a throng of its major subsidiary company officials participated in the seminar, paying intense concern on Korea’s experience on the introduction of Korea’s nuclear power plants and ways of promoting cooperation to build mid- and long-term supply chain networks.
The Team Korea delegation presented a roadmap tailored to Vietnam’s characteristics based on a wide range from nuclear power construction, to operation and maintenance.
Specifically, the Korean delegation had an in-depth discussion on matters, such as exploring candidate areas for local companies’ participation, how to connect expertise manpower development and ways of implementing businesses using the conventional industry infrastructure and ways of building step-by-step supply chains through cooperation with Korea.
KEPCO’s move follows the Vietnamese government’s steps to localize nuclear power, calling for raising the portion of Vietnamese companies’ participation in the construction and installation of nuclear power auxiliary facilities to 30 percent.
KEPCO said, “Expanding our partnership beyond manpower training cooperation to the supply chain sector represents a significant advancement in the nuclear cooperation relationship between both parties,” adding, “KEPCO will expand supply chain development through mutually beneficial cooperation with Vietnamese companies and further solidify the foundation for bilateral cooperation.”
KEPCO and MCEE Inaugurate ‘Industry, Academia, Research and Government Circle Forum for Power Industry’
KEPCO said on April 19 that the corporation held an integrated inauguration ceremony for the “Power Industry Academia-Industry-Research-Government Expert Forum” in cooperation with MCEE at the KEPCO Art Center on April 17.
They also launched efforts to build a foundation for executing new technologies and new businesses.
Among those on hand at the inauguration ceremony were representatives from government, industry, academia and research circles, including KEPCO President Kim Dong-cheol, Deputy Minister Lee Won-ju of the Energy Transition Policy Office at MCEE, HD Electric President Kim Young-ki, Prof. Park Jong-bae of Konkuk University.
The forum was divided into eight theme sectors: transmission and substation ESS, distribution network ESS, next-generation inverters, V2G, VPP, AMI, heat pumps, and biohydrogen.
A combined 42 people from the industry circle, 27 from academia and 11 from research circles and 34 people from government and public entity circles participate in the forum with experts belonging to each theme segment.
The forums are intended to explore innovative business models of the new energy business sector based on five months of in-depth discussions and collective intelligence.
It plans to execute omni-directional innovation steps encompassing related technologies, markets and institutional systems in a speedy fashion.
The forums are operated in an innovative way of solving problems on a continuous basis, departi9ng from the limitations of the conventional forum, which ends up with one-time presenting of themes and discussions.
Members from each forum hold meetings twice or three times regularly per month and frequently to have an in-depth diagnosis into stumbling blocks which have delayed new energy businesses for the past 10 years.
Each theme sector forum plans to establish a fast-track plan of all processes encompassing verification of new technologies, technology commercialization and technology transfer of innovation companies.
KEPCO President Kim said, “In an era of energy transition, moving technology, market and policy separately no longer make a difference, and the government and KEPCO will spearhead on mobilizing capabilities from industry, academia, research and public entity circle and serve as a platform to connect new energy technologies to markets and policies.”
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