The Minister of Science and ICT, Lee Jong Ho, attended the Nuclear Energy Summit 2024, hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Belgian government, on March 21 at the Brussels Expo. As the head of the Korean delegation, Minister Lee highlighted the Korean government's nuclear energy expansion policy and its initiatives toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
As the first-ever multilateral summit in the field of nuclear energy, the event saw the attendance from 38 countries which intend to expand or start developing nuclear power generation and industry, underscoring the role of nuclear energy in addressing climate change, enhancing energy security, and fostering economic growth. The Summit also aimed to support countries transitioning from fossil fuel-based to clean energy systems and to promote innovation in nuclear technology and industry.
The Summit reaffirmed Korea's commitment to expanding nuclear power, aligning with the decisions made at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in December last year, which recognized nuclear power as an essential factor for transition to clean energy and declared to triple nuclear power capacity.
Minister Lee reiterated Korea's progress in nuclear energy, including the construction of Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4, continuous operation of existing plants, and support for the development of homegrown technology and establishment of industrial infrastructure, including next-generation reactors, such as small modular reactors (SMRs). He stressed the Ministry’s efforts to secure strategic technology and foster key talent which can lead to enhanced nuclear power competitiveness by continuously investing in innovative research and development, particularly in promising SMR technology, aiming to triple global nuclear power generation by 2050.
The Minister highlighted Korea's expertise in nuclear power plant construction and operation, citing successful construction of 36 nuclear power plants including the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the UAE since 1971, while also pledging continued participation in overseas nuclear projects to meet global demand.
Additionally, Minister Lee outlined Korea's "Carbon-Free Energy (CFE) Initiative," presented at the UN General Assembly last September, as a realistic approach to achieving net-zero energy. "In the advent of the AI era, there's a significant surge in electricity demand, while renewable energy utilization varies across nations," he elaborated, delving into the prevailing energy dynamics. "To attain both industrial growth and carbon neutrality, proactive adoption of diverse carbon-free energy sources, such as nuclear power, renewables, and hydrogen, is imperative," rallying for global cooperation in expanding carbon-free energy initiatives.
Simultaneously, the Minister shared views with heads of delegations of Belgium, the U.S., UAE, and Sweden, and Secretary Generals of the IAEA and IEA, underscoring "With AI's ubiquitous integration, surge in energy usage necessitates our attention." He also highlighted the imperative of leveraging nuclear energy, including SMRs, alongside low-power semiconductor technology development as a strategic response.
Furthermore, institutions such as the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Corporation, and Korea Electric Power Corporation were present at the summit, engaging in discussions regarding collaborative efforts on nuclear power plants and next-generation reactor projects with pertinent counterparts from key partner nations.
For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division (Phone: +82-44-202-4034, E-mail: msitmedia@korea.kr) of the Ministry of Science and ICT.
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