KHNP gets EUR certification for nuclear plant model in Europe

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) on Thursday said the standard design of its APR1000, a nuclear power plant that it exports to Europe, has obtained certification from the European Utility Requirements (EUR) Organization.

Comprising 13 nuclear power operators in 12 countries on the Continent, the organization standardizes the designs of new nuclear plants and requires member countries to use such designs as standard prerequisites for plant tenders.

EUR certification is a system through which the organization reviews the safety and economic feasibility of the standard design of a new light-water reactor to be built in Europe.

By securing the EUR certification for its APR1000 model, KHNP said it secured a competitive advantage in the European export market for nuclear power plants by meeting safety and performance requirements commonly required in the region. The Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia make it mandatory for the latest such certification to be reflected as a bidding requirement.

The APR1000 was customized to meet European requirements by applying the latest safety technology standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency and Western European Nuclear Regulators Association.

In November 2019, KHNP officially applied for EUR certification review along with Kepco Engineering & Construction Co., Kepco Nuclear Fuel and Doosan Enerbility Co..

KHNP in January 2020 passed the preliminary suitability assessment of 53 core requirements and the main review that began in February 2021. Its certification period of 22 months was the fastest among older plant types undergoing the same examination.

In 2017, KHNP also received EUR certification for the standard design of its APR1400 model geared for Europe.

"The APR1000 received EUR certification in the shortest time to confirm the safety, economic feasibility and constructability of our nuclear power plant," KHNP President and CEO Whang Joo-ho said. "Based on this, we will do our best to achieve tangible results in securing orders for nuclear power plants in Europe like the Czech Republic."

Write to So-Hyeon Kim at alpha@hankyung.com