April 27, 2023, 9:30AMUpdated April 27, 2023, 9:30AMNuclear News At table, from left: Navid Samandari, chief executive officer of Seaborg Technologies; Jooho Whang, CEO of KHNP; and Jintaek Jeong, CEO of Samsung Heavy Industries. (Photo: Seaborg Technologies)
Denmark-based Seaborg Technologies, developer of the compact molten salt reactor (CMSR), has teamed with two South Korean firms—shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and nuclear plant owner and operator Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP)—to form a consortium for the development of floating nuclear plants featuring the CMSR. The consortium agreement was signed in Seoul on April 20.
The power plants are to be installed on barges, with a modular design able to deliver from 200 to 800 MWe. The consortium’s first project is expected to be a 200-MWe power barge.
According to the companies’ announcement, the consortium aims to enable timely commercialization and a scalable export of factory-produced CMSR-based floating plants worldwide, with improved efficiency and inherent safety characteristics. “With KHNP’s extensive experience in nuclear power generation, SHI’s offshore construction expertise, and Seaborg Technologies’ innovative technology, the consortium is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for clean and reliable energy,” the announcement stated.
CEOs on board: “KHNP’s active effort will be aimed at fostering a mutually beneficial partnership between Korea and Denmark, with a focus on cooperation in the next-generation nuclear power project, for a safer and cleaner future,” said Jooho Whang, KHNP’s chief executive officer.
“This consortium,” added Navid Samandari, CEO of Seaborg Technologies, “is unique for deploying nuclear power at scale. We are proud to say we have partnered with the best for construction and operations as part of our shared mission to develop and deploy the power barges.” (For more on Seaborg Technologies and the CMSR, see last April’s Nuclear Newswire piece titled “Podcast features CEO of SMR company.”
