+++ 15. Januar 2010 +++
South Korea Forges Ahead with Nuclear Power
In December 2009, a South Korea consortium won a large contract for four 1,400-megawatt nuclear reactors in the United Arab Emirates, over a rivaling consortium led by France's Areva Group. The contract, worth $20 billion in direct construction and initial operation, with perhaps another $20 billion in follow-up and associated work, is Korea's first export contract, and represents a new breakthrough in a nuclear power success story of almost 40 years.
In 1971, when construction began on Korea's first nuclear power plant in Gori, South Gyeongsang Province, the country's own builders were not yet trained in such pioneer technology projects. In fact, while the U.S. Westinghouse was building and testing Korea's first and second nuclear plants, and Korean technicians were not even allowed access to key areas, and had to virtually learn from looking over the shoulders of American engineers.
"Now it [Korea] has mastered almost the entire technology and exports it.... Behind the feat are the efforts and sacrifices of many scientists, researchers and technicians.... A lot of blood, sweat and sheer determination went into Korea mastering the technology," Korea's Chosun Ilbo reported on Dec. 29 in a review of this process, with justifiable pride. The government, according to Knowledge Economy Minister Choi Kyung-hwan, who was at the signing ceremony in the UAE, will develop a master plan for making nuclear power generation one of the country's leading export industries, along with autos, ships, and information technology.
In line with that goal, the Korea Electric Power Corp.(KEPCO) has announced plans to open the world's first graduate school dedicated exclusively to nuclear power plant studies in 2012. Participating companies, including four affiliates of KEPCO, will provide financing and training of the teaching staff for the International Nuclear Graduate School. "We will nurture specialists in atomic power generation, who can best leverage our competitive edges to build the world's best nuclear power plants," said Yun Jung-hyun, team leader of the school's task force.
A total of 100 nuclear energy specialists, including 50 non-Koreans, will be admitted to a two-year course in English each year. "Rising talents from potential export countries such as Turkey, Jordan, Vietnam and Indonesia will produce valuable networks we need in the future," Yun said. The United Arab Emirates will dispatch 10 workers to participate in the program when the school opens.
Related news item: Renaissance of Nuclear Power: South Korea Turns to Exports
~ deutsch + english ~
Weltweit
Alle Themen
Weitere Meldungen
+++ 29. Juli 2010 +++
Immer deutlicher sichtbar: Obama „dreht durch“
US-Präsident Barack Obama, der schon immer eine anfällige, narzißtische Persönlichkeit war, dreht nun offenbar psychologisch durch. Er und sein engster Kreis brüsten sich zwar mit seinen „erfolgreiche...
[weiter]
+++ 29. Juli 2010 +++
Budapest weist IWF zurück
Am 22.7. stimmte das ungarische Parlament mit überwältigender Mehrheit von 301:12 Stimmen (bei 386 Mitgliedern) für das Gesetzespaket von Ministerpräsident Viktor Orban für eine „nationale wirtschaftl...
[weiter]
+++ 29. Juli 2010 +++
Hungary Tells the IMF to Get Lost
On July 22, the 386-member national parliament of Hungary passed the "national economic revolution" package of Prime Minister Viktor Orban with an overwhelming majority of 301 to 12 votes and one abst...
[weiter]
+++ 29. Juli 2010 +++
Kesha Rogers Mounts in Polls
The first poll numbers released for the Texas Congressional races caused a stir in "official" circles of both parties, including the results for Kesha Rogers, the Democratic Party nominee in the 22nd ...
[weiter]
+++ 29. Juli 2010 +++
Russia Funds Ambitious New Cosmodrome
While a certain faction of the Russian leadership around Anatoli Chubais clings to the illusion of creating a new nanotechnology and financial services bubble, others are moving ahead to build up the ...
[weiter]