Centrus to supply enriched uranium to KHNP for next decade

Korea-US nuclear tie renewed under Trump

By Ko Dong-hwan

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) agreed with nuclear fuel supplier Centrus Energy to receive enriched uranium from the American firm for the next 10 years to secure fuel for its present and future facilities.

KHNP said Wednesday the deal’s signing took place in Washington on Tuesday (local time). Under the deal, Centrus Energy will supply high-assay low enriched uranium (HALEU) to KHNP.

This is the first Korea-U.S. deal in the nuclear energy sector since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last month.

The deal has further diversified KHNP’s global supply chain for HALEU and strengthened security in reserving the fuel, according to KHNP.

KHNP said the deal came as the global nuclear energy market has recently highlighted an importance of securing resources for the facilities’ operation. The company added that the deal, beyond strengthening the global nuclear fuel supply chain for Korea, has brought the two countries closer together under a stronger nuclear partnership.

“This agreement plays a critical role in strengthening Korea’s energy security and ensuring a stable enriched uranium supply chain,” KHNP President and CEO Whang Joo-ho said after signing the deal with Centrus Energy CEO Amir Vexler.

“The deal also supports the sustainability of nuclear power generation and strengthens Korea’s position in the global nuclear energy market.”

Centrus Energy is the only company to have secured clearance from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to manufacture HALEU, according to KHNP. HALEU is used as a fuel for next-generation nuclear power plants and small modular reactors.

Centrus Energy in November 2023 succeeded in its initial production of 20 kilogram of uranium (kgU) of HALEU at its facility in Piketon, Ohio. Since then, it has scaled up the production capacity to 900 kgU per year.

KHNP said the latest deal with Centrus Energy will provide fuel for not only its currently operating facilities but also those that will be built in future.

The supply deal came as KHNP awaits the signing of a finalized contract with the Czech government next month to build two nuclear reactors at the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant.

KHNP, even after being selected a preferred bidder for the project last July by the Czech Republic’s major state-run utility company CEZ Group, locked horns in court with the U.S. nuclear technology firm Westinghouse over technology rights and legitimacy regarding KHNP's participation in the Dukovany project. But they reached an agreement last month to cooperate under the growing nuclear partnership between Korea and the U.S.