KEPCO NF to Localize Nuclear Steam Generator Tubes

Expected annual sales of more than 200 billion won with an active nuclear export promotion

The localization of heat transfer tubes for a nuclear steam generator, which has been imported until now, has finally opened its way to obtain advantages in exports of nuclear power plants, and it resulted from the cooperation between the Korean government and the local industrial bodies. At the Inter-City Hotel, Daejeon in the afternoon of May 2, KEPCO NF (president & CEO Kim Ki-hak) announced that it held a meeting on R&D and Localization of the Heat Transfer Tubes for a Nuclear Steam Generator, and signed MOU with KHNP and Doosan Heavy Industry & Construction.

The heat transfer tube, a primary component of steam generators, is an Alloy 690 tube heat exchanger equipped in a nuclear steam generator. Since Korea currently has no technology for the tube fabrication, Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction has been manufacturing the steam generators with imported tubes both for domestic and international use.

President Kim said, “By the time we accomplish the project, KEPCO NF can promise a stable tube supply for the entire quantity needed in Korea with more competitive price. I believe this will lead us to save yearly about 50 million USD by substituting the imports and the annual sales are expected to surpass 200 billion Won. Based on the enhanced competitiveness to manufacture and supply the steam generators, this will promote the nuclear exports as well.

KEPCO NF has earlier noticed that the demand will be on the rise for the heat transfer tubes as the nuclear global market and the number of domestic nuclear power plants grows all together. It already succeeded in localization of Zircaloy Tube fabrication, which is very alike in technology for the heat transfer tubes. This helped the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy (MOTIE) choose KEPCO NF to carry out the project named ‘High Quality Technology Development of Heat Transfer Tubes for a Nuclear Steam Generator’.

The project includes about 136 billion won expenses for the facility construction in Nonsan general industrial complex II, by the late 2017. The company views that it will bring increase in sales and employment of about 150 people as it can produce the steam generator tubes for SMART and either newly developed or on-going reactors.