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According to the industry on October 24th, Westinghouse filed a lawsuit against KEPCO and HanSuwon on 21st (local time) in the US District Court for the District of Washington, DC. Based on the US Import and Export Control Law, the purpose is to seek export restrictions on the Korean-style next-generation nuclear power plant, the APR1400.
Westinghouse claims its technology is used in the APR1400, and claims it needs approval from the company and the U.S. Department of Energy to export it to other countries.
In 2000, Westinghouse acquired the U.S.-based Cambustian Engineering (CE).
Regarding this, Westinghouse argues that the technology included in the APR1400 is subject to approval by the US Department of Energy based on the US Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), which clearly regulates the export of nuclear power technology. The industry believes that KHNP is expected to win the bid for the new nuclear power plant project in Poland, and that Westinghouse has tried to put a check on it through lawsuits.
Depending on the outcome of the lawsuit, the Yoon administration's goal of exporting 10 nuclear power plants by 2030, including the Polish nuclear power plant project, may be hindered.
Prior to this, Westinghouse also took issue with intellectual property rights when KHNP exported four nuclear power plants to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2009. At that time, Hansuwon received approval from Westinghouse and the US side in the form of paying Westinghouse a technical consulting fee.
In a press release that day, HanSuwon said, “We understand that the Westinghouse lawsuit is about South Korea using its own technology and being subject to US export controls. We will look for the best measures to prevent any trouble."
2022/10/26 09:55 KST
