KHNP Lands Egypt’s El Dabaa Power Plant Order

KHNP struck a contract for the procurement of certain equipment and materials, and the construction of the main and auxiliary buildings and structures of the turbine islands of units 1-4 of the El Dabaa with ASE, a subsidiary of the Russian state corporation Roastrom, in Cairo on Aug. 25.

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) won a 3 trillion won order for Egypt’s El Dabaa power plant.

KHNP’s winning the nuclear power order comes 13 years after Korea was awarded a project to build the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the United Arab Emirates.

It is the first that Korea has landed a nuclear power contract since the inauguration of President Yoon Suk-yeol.

Winning a nuclear contract in Africa following a winning order in the Middle East is expected to have a positive impact on Korea’s bid to land large-sized nuclear power projects in the Czech Republic and Poland.

According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, KHNP President Whang Joo-ho struck a contract for the procurement of certain equipment and materials, and the construction of the main and auxiliary buildings and structures of the turbine islands of units 1-4 of the El Dabaa with Senior VP Alexander Korchagin of ASE, a subsidiary of the Russian state corporation Roastrom, in Cairo on Aug. 25.

KHNP was selected as a sole preferred negotiator by ASE last December.

The deal calls for KHNP’s engaging in construction and outfitting of a special area where turbine island facilities and auxiliary structures are located.

The Korean side will be involved in outfitting sites for all four power units of the nuclear power plant. Forty-four auxiliary structures are anticipated to be built.

ASE won the El-Dabaa NPP project from the Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA) in 2017. The 39 trillion won project calls for building four 1200MW VVER-1200 nuclear power units. The commercial operation of the first unit is scheduled for 2028.

The Korean nuclear power industry, based on experiences and execution of the Barakah NPP in the UAE, is expected to collaborate in local companies for the construction of Egypt’s first nuclear power plant.

New KHNP President Whang Joo-ho gives his inaugural speech as he took office as the 10th president of Korea Hydro Nuclear Power Co. at an inauguration ceremony at KHNP headquarters in Gyeongju on Aug. 2. (Photos: KHNP)

New KHNP President Prioritizing Exporting Nuclear Power Plants

New KHNP President Whang Joo-ho said KHNP would explore ways of promoting cooperation with the United States in the course of attracting orders to export nuclear power plant construction technologies.

The president, a former professor of Kyunghee University Nuclear Power Engineering Department, made the remarks on Aug. 19, shortly after he was selected as new president at KHNP’s extraordinary shareholders meeting.

President Whang was quoted as saying, “KHNP will focus on exporting nuclear power plants as the new government has done.”

The reason is that only resuming of the Shin Hanul Nuclear Units 3 and 4 now under construction is not sufficient to maintain the Korean nuclear industry ecosystem.

“If we can cooperate with the United States, he said, “Team KORUS (Korea-U.S.) strategy will be good.”

President Whang took office as the 10th president of Korea Hydro Nuclear Power Co at an inauguration ceremony at KHNP headquarters in Gyeongju on Aug. 22.

He said KHNP would export overseas nuclear power markets with the goal of exporting 10 nuclear power units and raise the power company’s international standing.

President Whang is a seasoned expert in the nuclear power sector, particularly being a top expert in the Korean spent nuclear fuel segment.

During the inauguration ceremony, President Whang also stressed safety of nuclear power units.