KEPCO NF President Kim Ki-Hak signed an agreement for export of nuclear fuel service equipment worth US$4 million to Nuclear Power Institute of China (NPIC) on January 17, 2012. KEPCO NF won an international bid to sell nuclear fuel service equipment and provide technology training to NPIC in late 2011.

The equipment and technology have been developed by KEPCO NF under the “NU-TECH 2012” initiative in which the Company participates. The NU-TECH 2012 initiative is pushed by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy in a bid to upgrade Korea’s nuclear power industry. The equipment is due to be shipped to China’s Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant by January 31, 2013.

“This deal is significant in that we export Korea's original nuclear fuel service equipment and technology, following our export to the United Arab Emirates of completed nuclear fuel and nuclear fuel key components and equipment," observed KEPCO NF President Kim.

Striving to win the deal, KEPCO NF has undertaken a campaign targeting NPIC to publicize the superiority of its service equipment and technology since August 2010. The Company won an international bid that was presented by NPIC in November 2011, elbowing out its leading competitors.

Reference :

Nuclear fuel service & technology
The equipment and technology which are due to be supplied to NPIC include spent nuclear fuel combustion performance detector, failed fuel repair, failed fuel ultrasonic detector, installment, and operating skills training.

Nuclear Power Institute of China
Founded in 1963, NPIC oversees seven research reactors, about 70 test facilities, and nine nuclear power plants including Quishan Nuclear Power Plant. It conducts nuclear power plant core design and service for these facilities. NPIC, staffed by 6,300, is a state-serviced institution.

Process of negotiations
Nov. 5, 2010     Presents a technology briefing on nuclear fuel service equipment and technology

                          in first visit to NPIC (involves the technology development unit)
Sept. 29, 2011  Offers a technology briefing on nuclear fuel service equipment and technology

                          in second visit to NPIC (involves the equipment procurement unit)
Nov. 4, 2011     Obtains ITB
Nov. 24, 2011   Submits bid documents to NPIC
Dec. 5, 2011     Conducts negotiations about contract terms and technology transfer in third

                          visit to NPIC
Dec. 12, 2011    Picked as preferred bidder (vied with Spain’s ENSA)
Dec. 16, 2011    Conducts final negotiations and concludes an agreement