Mini nuclear reactors with key South Korean parts cleared by US

Doosan Heavy has struggled as atomic power is phased out

This artist's rendering shows NuScale's SMR nuclear power plant to be completed by the end of the decade. (Photo courtesy of Doosan Heavy Industries)

KOTARO HOSOKAWA, AZUSA KAWAKAMI and SHUHEI OCHIAI, Nikkei staff writers

September 29, 2020 13:03 JST

TOKYO -- Miniature nuclear reactors that use key components from South Korea's Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction have won first-of-its-kind certification for use in the U.S.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in late August approved the use of small reactor modules, or SMRs, for a project being undertaken by the American company NuScale Power. Doosan agreed to provide NuScale with enough reactor and turbine parts to build a 12-module plant under a $1.3 billion contract.