▲ Nuclear decommissioning market gains momentum after Kori Unit 1 decommissioning approval … HYUNDAI E&C’s advanced technology again in the spotlight

▲ With proven project delivery and field experience, HYUNDAI E&C aims to secure the full nuclear power lifecycle as global nuclear leader 

As the first Korean builder to join a U.S. decommissioning project, HYUNDAI E&C is strengthening its core capabilities to enter the global nuclear decommissioning market. 

Nuclear decommissioning typically involves at least a decade-long efforts including permanent shutdown, safety management, spent fuel removal, facility dismantling, and site restoration. Owing to the extended timeline, technical complexity, relevant regulations, and limited availability of specialized equipment, only 25 reactors have been fully decommissioned worldwide to date. In Korea, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission granted approval last month for the decommissioning of Kori Unit 1, officially launching Korea’s first full-scale decommissioning project, eight years after the reactor’s permanent shutdown.

HYUNDAI E&C has been at the forefront of Korea’s nuclear era since building Kori Unit 1 in 1971, completing 24 Korea-standard reactors. Based on its comprehensive technology and experience covering the entire nuclear lifecycle, the company gained early recognition in the highly entry-restricted nuclear decommissioning market. Through domestic refurbishment projects, including the steam generator replacement at Kori Unit 1, HYUNDAI E&C built up critical experience and remains the first and only Korean builder to enter the U.S. decommissioning sector.

HYUNDAI E&C has entered into a partnership agreement with U.S. nuclear decommissioning leader Holtec since 2022 on the decommissioning of Indian Point (IPEC) Units 1 to 3, deploying expert staff to the decommissioning site and building global decommissioning capabilities through mutual collaboration on know-how and technical expertise.

HYUNDAI E&C is jointly implementing key processes in nuclear decommissioning, such as ▲ cutting of reactor structures and dismantling of contaminated equipment, ▲ removal of spent nuclear fuel and transfer to storage facilities, ▲ demolition of buildings and radioactive waste management, while also contributing to the use of advanced technologies like remote automated welding and specialized lifting systems to reduce workers’ exposure to radiation.

HYUNDAI E&C is jointly conducting nuclear decommissioning work and has accumulated advanced technologies and know-how in the U.S, which is recognized as the largest and most active market for the global nuclear decommissioning market. The company plans to apply the expertise and experience gained from these projects to domestic decommissioning projects, including that of Kori Unit 1. Holtec, which holds more than 50% of the U.S. market share in spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste management, possesses a dry storage system for spent fuel, and HYUNDAI E&C is expanding its scope of cooperation with Holtec beyond decommissioning to include radioactive waste storage technologies as well.

HYUNDAI E&C has made considerable progress in Korea as well. In 2019, the company was commissioned by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) to assess contamination and regulatory clearance of decommissioned nuclear sites, which has helped it to secure a range of technologies related to site restoration, including: ▲ groundwater monitoring and contamination assessment at decommissioned nuclear power plants, ▲ remediation technologies for radioactive soil and groundwater, ▲ site regulatory clearance and safety assessment technology, and ▲ evaluation technologies for site reuse. Moreover in 2022, the company earned the Ministry of Environment’s first-ever Green Certification for its proprietary radioactive soil restoration technology.

Since last year, HYUNDAI E&C has been conducting a commissioned work¹⁾ on site condition assessments and establishing decommissioning procedures for permanently shut down domestic reactors such as Kori Unit 1 and Wolsong Unit 1. As a result, the company is regarded as playing a pivotal role in the initial stage of Korea’s nuclear decommissioning.

According to a HYUNDAI E&C official, “The global nuclear decommissioning is a promising sector which is estimated to grow to KRW 500 trillion by 2050. HYUNDAI E&C, the only Korean builder with U.S. nuclear decommissioning experience, has built a full range of of capabilities from technologies in radioactive soil remediation, but also in aging facility management, structural dismantling, dry storage of spent nuclear fuel, and radioactive waste treatment. The company expects to win substantial contracts in the nuclear decommissioning market where future project orders are expected to increase. 

1) Project on the “Safety Assessment of Media for Regulatory Clearance and Development of Final Site Status Survey Procedures for Decommissioned Nuclear Power Plants” awarded in December 2023