KAIF Chairman Chung Jae-hoon, concurrently KHNP president, delivers his commemorative video speech during KAP 2021. (Photo: KAIF)

About 400 international and Korean nuclear power exerts assembled at Hwabaek International Convention (HICO) in Gyeongju to attend the Korea Atomic Power Annual Conference 2021 (KAP 2021) from May 11 to May 12.

The Korea Atomic Industrial Forum (KAIF) hosted KAP 2021, and it was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), the Gyeongsangbuk-do provincial government and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP).

KAP 2021 was held under the theme “Stand Up for the Carbon-Free World – Nuclear, a Solution for Climate Crisis.” The event was divided into three sessions on future energy strategies to cope with climate crisis, ways of promoting cooperation in the international nuclear power industry, and ways of ramping roles of the nuclear power.

In his opening speech, KAIF Chairman Chung Jae-hoon, who is also concurrently KHNP president, said “The nuclear power will be an alternative energy resource which produces almost no carbon emissions as countries around the world make efforts to cope with climate crisis.”

The nuclear power industry should play its given roles in a new energy era by ramping up its competitiveness, he said.

To this end, President Chung said, the nuclear power industry will have to strengthen nuclear power safety, develop innovative small modular reactors and create new growth engines such as decommissioning.

In particular, he said the industry will provide full support to nuclear power SMEs’ exploration of overseas markets so that they can be reinvigorated.

He also stressed the implementation of shared growth policies, the sound development of the nuclear power eco-system and social responsibilities.

MSIT Vice Minister Yong Hong-taek said the government will make efforts to create new industries by aggressively investing in maximizing nuclear power safety, tapping the future new markets through the development of Korean SMR models, hydrogen production and its uses in space and marine sectors, and radiation value-added convergence areas.

The keynote speaker of the opening session was Chairman Yoo Young-sook of the Climate Change Center.

Explaining a situation with a multiple of crises such as climate crisis, COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession facing the world, Chairman Yoo said the world should adopt sustainable growth strategies, starting with carbon neutrality to overcome the crises.

Yoon also stressed the need for promoting cooperation and sharing information among science and technology researchers, including nuclear power experts, policymakers and civic body circles to achieve carbon neutrality.

Prof. Chung Beom-jin of Kyunghee University Atomic Engineering Department said nuclear power is the sole way of emitting no carbon while generating power, and small modular reactors, whose construction period is short and costs less investments, is an alternative option.

Foreign keynote speakers who could not attend the event in person due to the pandemic included CEO Ali Al Hammadi of UAE Nawah Energy and Michal Wiezchowski of the Office of the Polish Government Plenipotentiary for Strategic Energy Infrastructure.

Instead, they exchanged views and shared information with participating foreign and Korean experts via teleconference in real time.

KAP 2021 coincided with the World Nuclear Energy Exhibition 2021 (WNEE 2021). WNEE 2021, which took place between May 10 and May 11, was hosted by KAIF and supported by Gyeongsangbuk-do, Pohang Technopark and six power companies. Forty-eight exhibitors, participating in the exhibition, operated about 70 booths.

Among the exhibitors were KHNP, KEPCO KPS, KEPCO E&C, KEPCO Nuclear Fuel (KEPCO NF), Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction, Korea Radioactive Waste Agency (KORAD) and Korea Atomic Research Institute. SK E&C and Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction opened new business pavilions.

In a related development, the World Nuclear and Radiation Expo 2021 will be held at COEX in Seoul from June 23 through June 25. The event will be hosted by the World Nuclear & Radiation Expo Committee and supported by MSIT and MOTIE.