South Korea’s Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) is pursuing new nuclear power plant projects in Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye, leveraging its experience from the Barakah nuclear power plant project in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

KEPCO said on Thursday that it is actively discussing new projects with these countries and more based on its experience and capabilities gained from the Barakah project.

“We are working to achieve tangible results moving forward,” the state utility added.

KEPCO plans to participate in the upcoming bidding for Saudi Arabia’s new nuclear project scheduled for the second half of 2025. It was selected as a preliminary contractor for a Saudi project involving two 1,400-megawatt (MW) nuclear reactors in 2018.

Other contenders showing interest in the Saudi project include France’s EDF, China’s China General Nuclear Power Group, and Russia’s Rosatom. KEPCO aims to leverage its successful experience completing the Barakah project despite the Middle East’s hot and humid construction conditions.

It also plans to aggressively pursue nuclear exports to Vietnam and Türkiye.

Vietnam approved plans for two nuclear reactors in 2009 but suspended the initiative in 2016 following safety concerns raised by the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan in 2011. The Vietnamese government recently indicated a willingness to introduce nuclear power, however, amid worsening power shortages.

Türkiye is seeking contractors for new nuclear projects in the Sinop and Thrace regions, with KEPCO submitting a preliminary proposal for the Sinop project in 2023.

KEPCO is also turning its attention to eco-friendly energy projects. It won the rights to Phase 1 of the Saudi Arabia Jafurah cogeneration plant project in 2022 and is now on the verge of winning the Phase 2 contract.

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