South Korea has licensed construction of the first pair of APR-1400 reactors at Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power’s (KHNP) Shin Kori project.

The first concrete for the first unit is scheduled in October with the plant expected to be in operation in 2013 after 51 months construction.

In anticipation of it KHNP placed a US$1.2 billion order with Doosan Heavy Industries for major components of both units in August 2006.

These will be the first of a new series of reactors developed by KHNP and Korea Power Engineering Company from US designs licensed by Westinghouse, and with the hope of exporting them.

Current export prospects to Indonesia centre on the OPR-1000 reactor design, formerly known as the Korean Standard Nuclear Plant. Ten of these are under construction and in operation in South Korea.

- News courtesy of Australian Uranium Association Weekly Digest