Boosting Nuclear Power Plant Exporting Industry

The 25th KAIF/KNS Annual Conference coincides with 2010 Nuclear Industry Exhibition

Approximately 600 international and Korean experts on nuclear power assembled in Seoul from April 14-16 and discussed issues on nuclear power under the theme “International Partnership in Advancing the Uses of Nuclear Energy.”
The KAIF/KNS Annual Conference is held jointly by the Korea Atomic Industrial Forum, Inc. (KAIF) and the Korean Nuclear Society (KNS) in celebration of the start of commercial operation of the Kori Nuclear Power Unit, Korea’s first, on April 29, 1978. The 25th KAIF/KNS Annual Conference was held at the COEX Convention Center for the first time since Korea was awarded a deal to build four nuclear power units in the United Arab Emirates late last year.
The KAIF/KNS Annual Conference coincided with the 2010 Nuclear Industry Exhibition that opened on April 14 at COEX Jangbogo Hall for a three day-run through April 16. A total of 12 Korean and foreign exhibitors participated in the exhibition. They included Korea Electric Power Corp., Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP), Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Westinghouse and Areva.
Visitors were given a good opportunity to get information on the latest technology and science in the world nuclear power industry as the exhibition highlighted electrical, architectural, physical, chemical and instrumental works and other things related to nuclear power.
The panel discussion of the plenary session was held on April 15 between 2:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. under the theme “International Partnership in Advancing the Uses of Nuclear Energy.”
Technical sessions (parallel) were held on April 16 between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The themes of the sessions were “Operation and Maintenance of NPPs” (Session 1); “Design, Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction of NPPs” (Session 2); “Nuclear Safety and Regulation” (Session 3); “Nuclear Fuel Technology and the Nuclear Fuel Cycle” (Session 4); “Enhanced Future Application of Nuclear Science and Technology” (Session 5); and “Radioactive Waste Management” (Session 6).
The KHNP Kori Nuclear Power Headquarters 2nd Power Plant was awarded the Prime Minister’s Award, the grand prize of the 2010 Nuclear Power Technology Award. The winning team was one of nine teams that received awards in recognition of their contribution to the development of Korean nuclear power technology. The KHNP team was credited with having operated Kori Nuclear Power Unit 3 without accidents 13 out of the last 25 years since the launch of commercial operations in 1985, to rank first for the ninth time among power plants across the world. The nuclear power unit logged 515 days of operation in accident-free one-cycle performance.
The Minister of Education, Science and Technology Award, Gold Prize, went to Park Sang-won, senior researcher of Korea Nuclear Fuel at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). Park was praised for succeeding in the development of an alternative to the U.S.-patented reactor design code. KAERI was recognized for its contribution to enhancing public awareness toward state-initiated projects on nuclear power.
The KAIF Award, Silver Prize, went to Kim Yong-gyu, general manager of Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction Nuclear Reactor Design Team; Cho Jik-rae, head of KOPEC Pipe Division; Chin Jyung-ju, deputy chief of the KHNP Shin Wolsung Construction Complex; and the construction arm of Samsung C&T and KNF. nw

(from right) Min Gye-hong, president of Korea Radioactive Waste Management Corp. gives a briefing on the current issues of treating radwaste to Minister of Education, Science and Technology Ahn Byung-man and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. President Kim Jong-shin who attended the 2010 Nuclear Industry Exhibition.A view of the KEPCO pavilion of the exhibition.