US-based Holtec International has signed an agreement with South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering & Construction (HDEC) to cooperate in the area of nuclear plant decommissioning.
As part of the agreement, HDEC will participate in decommissioning activities at Holtec-owned decommissioning sites in the USA to build their capabilities and experience in preparation for decommissioning projects in South Korea, which will be undertaken by the two companies. The agreement also provides for the two companies to further expand their cooperation internationally.
The agreement builds upon Holtec’s decommissioning track record in the USA. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Holtec Decommissioning International (HDI), the company is decommissioning several US plants including the former nuclear power plants at Oyster Creek (New Jersey), Pilgrim (Massachusetts) and Indian Point (New York). Holtec is also scheduled to become owner and licensee of the Palisades Nuclear Plant (Michigan) after it shuts down later this year.
Holtec said it uses cutting-edge technologies that minimise radioactive waste volumes, personnel dose and impact to the environment.
“Holtec is self-performing many critical aspects of the decommissioning process, supported by its in-house engineering, site services, and fabrication facilities in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, creating jobs and developing intellectual property that improves decommissioning processes,” the company noted. HDI’s fleet management model employs standardised processes and procedures refined through implementation across multiple decommissioning sites. “The ongoing dose, safety and environmental protection metrics garnered by HDI provide definitive proof that the dismantling of a nuclear plant can be done with a non-intrusive societal presence and as an environmentally safe undertaking,” Holtec added.
“As the owner and licensee of the largest decommissioning fleet in the United States, Holtec has a unique ability to develop strategic partnerships to further enhance our domestic project delivery capabilities and position ourselves for exports into new markets with industry leaders like HDEC,” said Dr Rick Springman, Holtec’s Senior Vice President of International Projects.
This decommissioning agreement follows an earlier agreement between the two companies last November to complete the Balance-of-Plant (BOP) design for Holtec’s SMR-160 small modular reactor and develop the integrated 3D plant model for construction using HDEC’s proven Building Information Modelling (BIM) management process.
President Young-Joon Yoon of HDEC said, “These agreements lay the foundation for HDEC to enhance its core competitiveness in new business areas and to diversify its business portfolio by teaming with Holtec, a leading technology company in the global nuclear power business.
He added: "We also see many opportunities to secure core competitiveness in new energy markets such as SMR-160 by making Hyundai E&C’s own technologies available to Holtec, such as our solid oxide fuel cells and hydrogen plant technologies that can be incorporated into the SMR-160 BOP design in the future to support our vision of a carbon-free new energy era.”
Photo: Holtec President and CEO Kris Singh and Hyundai E&C President Yoon at the Teaming Agreement Signing Ceremony for Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning (Photo: Holtec International)
