SeAH Besteel Expands Nuclear Cooperation with BWXT Canada

SeAH Besteel CI SeAH Besteel is moving to expand cooperation in the nuclear power plant manufacturing sector through a partnership with BWXT Canada Ltd., a global leader in nuclear technology. SeAH Besteel said on Oct. 15 that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with BWXT Canada to explore strategic cooperation measures, including the supply of forgings for nuclear power plant equipment and high value-added components. Its cooperation partner, BWXT Canada, has more than 70 years of expertise and provides equipment manufacturing and engineering services to the global commercial nuclear power market, including North America. To date, it has supplied more than 325 steam generators and major reactor components to nuclear power plants worldwide, and it is regarded as playing a key role in next-generation SMRs and advanced reactors. SeAH Besteel has been broadening its business area based on the technological capabilities it has built up in the field of spent nuclear fuel transport and storage casks. Its quality system has been recognized through certifications including those from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Korea Electric Association’s Electric Power Industry Technical Standards, and in January last year it successfully supplied eight casks to the North American market for the first time among domestic companies. In November of the same year, it built its track record further by delivering four spent nuclear fuel transport casks, KN-18, to Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. With this cooperation as a turning point, the company plans to expand its existing business structure, which has focused on cask manufacturing, to include the production of key components for SMRs and large reactors. It has set a goal of transforming itself into a "total nuclear solutions provider" covering the entire process from special steel materials to large reactor components. A SeAH Besteel official said the MOU would serve as an important milestone in strengthening growth momentum in the global nuclear power plant manufacturing market and that the company plans to continue enhancing its global presence in line with trends in the expanding nuclear energy market.