Notice

Memorandum of understanding between the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom concerning civil nuclear energy cooperation

Published 23 November 2023

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (hereinafter, MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea (hereinafter, ROK) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (hereinafter, DESNZ) of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (hereinafter, UK) (hereinafter, the “Participants”);

Recalling the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Korea and Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy signed on 27 November 1991 ^{[footnote 1]};

Recalling the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea and the Department of Energy and Climate Change of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Concerning Commercial Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation signed on 6 November 2013; 

Recognising the significant ongoing cooperation between the Participants in the energy sector; 

Acknowledging the role civil nuclear energy can play in ensuring energy security and combatting climate change, and both nations’ shared commitment to promoting the highest standards of nuclear safety, security, safeguards and non-proliferation globally;

Expressing their willingness to foster increased cooperation in their respective domestic markets through investment, deployment of technology and expertise, and the construction of civil nuclear energy projects; 

Affirming their commitment to further enhancing bilateral cooperation in the civil nuclear energy sector by encouraging and facilitating the building of closer relationships between public and private entities; 

Recognising an ambition by both countries for the development of gigawatt-scale nuclear reactors, small modular reactors, and other advanced nuclear reactors, in both countries and in third country markets.

Recognising the need for all nuclear activities to follow the highest standard of safety, security, safeguards and non-proliferation.

Have reached the following understanding:

1. Objective

1.1. The objective of this Memorandum of Understanding (hereinafter, the “MOU”) is to recognize the achievements and development in the field of civil nuclear energy made by the ROK and the UK, as well as the willingness and interest of relevant ROK and UK civil nuclear energy enterprises to cooperate in the development of civil nuclear energy projects in the ROK, UK and third country markets.

1.2. This MOU replaces the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea and the Department of Energy and Climate Change of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Concerning Commercial Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation signed on 6 November 2013.

2. Scope

2.1. Under this MOU, the Participants will seek to encourage and facilitate cooperation by relevant civil nuclear energy enterprises of the two countries in the civil nuclear energy sector, including but not exclusively in the fields of advanced nuclear technologies, fusion technologies, nuclear fuels (including nuclear fuel supply chain), nuclear new build, financing for nuclear projects, radioactive waste, and decommissioning and safety, security, safeguards and non-proliferation.

2.2. Both Participants accept that specific areas of focus should include:

Nuclear New Build

2.3. The Participants will explore collaboration opportunities on the development of gigawatt-scale nuclear reactors, small modular reactors, and other advanced nuclear reactors, in both countries and in third country markets, and will also seek to explore potential opportunities to cooperate between each country or third country on financing and funding models for nuclear projects. Both Participants recognise the importance of open market access and the need to reduce trade barriers to support this. Both Participants will seek to do so recognising the highest standards of safety, security, safeguards and non-proliferation and in accordance with the relevant regulatory and security requirements of the respective countries.

Nuclear Fuels

2.4. Recognising the need to strengthen nuclear fuel supply-chains, both Participants will explore opportunities to cooperate on diversifying the fuel supply, and will seek to ensure robust and resilient nuclear fuel supply chains among like-minded countries with shared values.

Radioactive Wastes

2.5. The Participants will support potential opportunities to cooperate on the management of radioactive wastes and spent fuels, including dialogue between delivery bodies and sharing learning on engagement with communities and stakeholders.

Decommissioning

2.6. The Participants will seek to share experiences related to the decommissioning of nuclear power plants and exploring the potential for mutual assistance including:

a. exploring sharing best practice in decommissioning strategic approaches and technologies;
b. exploring working together to identify opportunities to build capabilities for safe and secure nuclear lifecycles among like-minded countries with shared values;
c. openness to considering deeper collaboration on research and development in shared challenges on decommissioning.

Skills and Workforce

2.7. The Participants support the efforts of industry and academia to increase collaboration in the area of nuclear skills and workforce, to ensure we prepare our workforces to meet the nuclear challenges of tomorrow.

Industry Collaboration

2.8. The Participants recognise the central role that the industries of both countries will play in supporting the objectives of both governments. The Participants support increased collaboration between industry, and between government agencies, in support of these efforts, including but not limited to entities such as: the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority; Great British Nuclear; the Nuclear Industry Association; the National Nuclear Laboratory; the Korea Electric Power Corporation and its subsidiaries; the Korea Nuclear Association; and Korea Radioactive Waste Agency.

Fusion Technologies

2.9. The Participants will seek to maintain dialogue on the development of fusion technologies to support fusion energy deployment worldwide.

2.10. The Participants will seek opportunities to work together on international standards and harmonising regulatory frameworks for fusion energy.

3. Implementation

3.1. The cooperation between the Participants proposed under this MOU will be guided by the respective governments and delivered by businesses and other enterprises.

3.2. The Participants understand that the participation of relevant civil nuclear energy enterprises in the construction of civil nuclear energy projects must comply with the applicable laws, statutes, regulations and other independent regulatory requirements of the respective countries, and each Participant will take the appropriate measures within its capacity to protect all the relevant legal rights of investors and project participants. The Participants will also act in accordance with the international non-proliferation framework, including relevant international treaties and IAEA safeguards.

3.3. Both Participants will facilitate the provision of guidance for relevant civil nuclear enterprises with an interest in participating in the long-term in relevant civil nuclear programmes in both countries, and third markets, including by:

a. Facilitating appropriate engagement with and between local and national supply chain enterprises, skills agencies, government entities and relevant academic institutions;
b. Sharing knowledge and experience of civil nuclear safety policies with a view to helping both Participants and their enterprises understand regulatory regimes and ensuring international safety standards and maintaining and enhancing local, national and international public support for the development of civil nuclear energy.

3.4. The Participants recognize the strength of each other’s expertise in all areas of the civil nuclear energy sector and welcome the partnerships of UK and Korean companies to work together on nuclear projects in the UK, ROK and third country markets on a commercial and competitive basis, as appropriate, in accordance with the relevant regulatory and security requirements of the respective countries.

4. Civil Nuclear Dialogue

4.1. An annual ROK-UK Civil Nuclear Energy Dialogue will be held alternatively in the two countries in the field of civil nuclear energy. The dates of the annual dialogue and the discussion topics are to be mutually decided upon between the Participants in advance.

4.2. The Participants will seek to hold technical meetings, as necessary, to explore collaboration opportunities on the development of gigawatt-scale nuclear reactors, small modular reactors, and other advanced nuclear reactors.

5. Confidential Information

5.1. Each Participant is to treat as confidential, to the extent permitted under its national law, information provided by the other Participant in connection with co-operation under this MOU with a request for confidential treatment of that information.

6. Resolution of Differences

6.1. Any difference that may arise between the Participants relating to the interpretation or implementation of this MOU will be resolved through consultation between the Participants and will not be referred to any third party for resolution.

7. Final Provisions

7.1. This MOU will come into effect upon its signature by the Participants and will continue in effect until terminated in accordance with sub-paragraph 7.2 below.

7.2. This MOU may be terminated by either Participant by providing six (6) months’ written notice to the other Participant, or mutual written consent on a date mutually determined by the Participants.

7.3. Either Participant may propose an amendment to this MOU by means of a written notice to the other Participant; any such amendment will be effected by mutual written consent between the Participants.

7.4. The Participants acknowledge that this MOU is not an international agreement and will not create any legally binding obligations under international law.

Signed in duplicate in London on 22 November 2023, in the English language.

For the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Claire Coutinho
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

For the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea
Bang, Moon Kyu
Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea

1. The UK and the Republic of Korea are due to sign and ratify an Amending Protocol to the existing 1991 Nuclear Cooperation Agreement following the UK`s withdrawal from Euratom. ↩