[더인베스터(코리아헤럴드)=박가영기자] 한국전력 박종혁 원전수출본부장이 다음주 런던서 열리는 원자력 컨퍼런스에 참석해 도시바의 영국 원전 프로젝트인 뉴젠(NuGen)의 톰 샘슨 CEO와 조우할 예정이다.
21일 업계 관계자들에 따르면 박본부장은 6월 27일-28일 양일간 열리는 ‘새 원전 건설(Nuclear New Build) 2017’ 회의에서 한전의 주요 원전 사업들을 소개할 예정이고 바로 이어 샘슨 CEO가 뉴젠 프로젝트의 진행상황을 설명한다.
21일 업계 관계자들에 따르면 박본부장은 6월 27일-28일 양일간 열리는 ‘새 원전 건설(Nuclear New Build) 2017’ 회의에서 한전의 주요 원전 사업들을 소개할 예정이고 바로 이어 샘슨 CEO가 뉴젠 프로젝트의 진행상황을 설명한다.
박본부장은 한전에서 원전 관련 최고 전문가로 꼽힌다. 2016년 원전본부장으로 임명된 이후 아랍에미리트 원전사업처장을 역임한바 있다. 한전은 2010년 아랍에미리트 원전 수출 이후 새로운 원전 수출 활로를 찾기 위해 노력해왔다.
뉴젠은 영국 무어사이드에 원전 3기를 짓는 대형 프로젝트로 일본의 도시바와 프랑스의 엔지(ENGIE)가 각 60%, 40% 지분을 투자했는데 올해 초 도시바의 원전사업 자회사인 웨스팅하우스가 파산보호에 들어가자 엔지는 보유지분 전부를 도시바에 매각했다.
한전이 뉴젠의 지분 인수에 관심을 표하고 있는 상황이라 두 사람의 만남에 관심이 모이고 있다.
한전 조환익 사장은 지난주 쓰나카와 사토시 도시바 사장을 만나 원전사업 협력방안을 논의하기도 했는데 그는 지난 3월 기자간담회에서 “뉴젠 매각 방식이 결정되는 대로 인수전에 가장 먼저 뛰어들 것”이라고 밝힌바 있다.
한전이 최종 뉴젠 지분을 인수할지에 대해서는 업계의 전망이 엇갈리는 상황이다.
익명을 요구한 한 원전 전문가는 “문재인정부가 탈원전을 선언하고 국내 원전건설이 중단되고 있는 상황에서 이를 해외 수출하는 것은 모순적으로 보일 것”이라고 설명했다.
그는 “뉴젠이 이미 웨스팅하우스의 신형 원전 모델인 AP1000을 활용하기로 결정한 만큼 한전의 독자 모델 APR1400이 이를 대체할 가능성은 현재로서는 낮다”며 한전이 지분 인수로 얻을 실익에 대해 회의적인 입장을 보였다.
(gpark@heraldcorp.com)
<원본 영문기사>
KEPCO nuke chief to meet NuGen CEO in London
[THE INVESTOR] A top Korea Electric Power Corp. executive is likely to meet NuGen’s chief on the sidelines of a London energy conference later this month, possibly to discuss stake acquisition in a nuclear plant, according to industry sources on June 21.
NuGen, owned by Japan’s Toshiba, is planning to sell substantial stake in a nuclear plant that will be Europe’s largest once completed, which is being eyed by KEPCO.
KEPCO Chief Nuclear Officer Park Jong-hyuck and NuGen CEO Tom Samson will be giving presentations at the Nuclear New Build 2017 scheduled for June 27-28. Industry watchers speculated that the two may have a one-on-one meeting during the conference.
Park’s presentation will involve KEPCO’s past nuclear plant projects, while Samson is scheduled to offer updates on the NuGen project.
Park played a key role in KEPCO’s nuclear project in the United Arab Emirates, considered as one of the state-run firm’s biggest deals. In October 2016, KEPCO signed an agreement to operate nuclear power plants in the UAE, a project he headed as vice president.
China General Nuclear Power Corporation, which has shown interest in the NuGen deal, will also be represented at the conference. On May 23, a delegation from the Chinese firm met with NuGen officials.
NuGen was formed in 2009 as a joint venture between France’s ENGIE, Spain’s Iberdrola and the Scottish and Southern Energy to build a new nuclear reactor in Northwest England with a capacity of up to 3.6 gigawatts. SSE and Iberdrola have since withdrawn from the project. Japan’s Toshiba now holds 100 percent stake. Neither Toshiba nor KEPCO have stated the size of stake on the block.
Meanwhile, KEPCO’s plans to pursue the deal are facing concerns due to President Moon Jae-in’s policies to reduce Korea’s reliance on nuclear power.
“As a state-owned company, it’s a dilemma for KEPCO,” an industry source told The Investor on the condition of anonymity.
“KEPCO wants another major deal like the one with the UAE, but at the same time, it’s afraid it may appear ironic to export nuclear technology when the country is busy shutting down its own facilities.”
By Park Ga-young (gypark@heraldcorp.com)
KEPCO nuke chief to meet NuGen CEO in London
[THE INVESTOR] A top Korea Electric Power Corp. executive is likely to meet NuGen’s chief on the sidelines of a London energy conference later this month, possibly to discuss stake acquisition in a nuclear plant, according to industry sources on June 21.
NuGen, owned by Japan’s Toshiba, is planning to sell substantial stake in a nuclear plant that will be Europe’s largest once completed, which is being eyed by KEPCO.
KEPCO Chief Nuclear Officer Park Jong-hyuck and NuGen CEO Tom Samson will be giving presentations at the Nuclear New Build 2017 scheduled for June 27-28. Industry watchers speculated that the two may have a one-on-one meeting during the conference.
Park’s presentation will involve KEPCO’s past nuclear plant projects, while Samson is scheduled to offer updates on the NuGen project.
Park played a key role in KEPCO’s nuclear project in the United Arab Emirates, considered as one of the state-run firm’s biggest deals. In October 2016, KEPCO signed an agreement to operate nuclear power plants in the UAE, a project he headed as vice president.
China General Nuclear Power Corporation, which has shown interest in the NuGen deal, will also be represented at the conference. On May 23, a delegation from the Chinese firm met with NuGen officials.
NuGen was formed in 2009 as a joint venture between France’s ENGIE, Spain’s Iberdrola and the Scottish and Southern Energy to build a new nuclear reactor in Northwest England with a capacity of up to 3.6 gigawatts. SSE and Iberdrola have since withdrawn from the project. Japan’s Toshiba now holds 100 percent stake. Neither Toshiba nor KEPCO have stated the size of stake on the block.
Meanwhile, KEPCO’s plans to pursue the deal are facing concerns due to President Moon Jae-in’s policies to reduce Korea’s reliance on nuclear power.
“As a state-owned company, it’s a dilemma for KEPCO,” an industry source told The Investor on the condition of anonymity.
“KEPCO wants another major deal like the one with the UAE, but at the same time, it’s afraid it may appear ironic to export nuclear technology when the country is busy shutting down its own facilities.”
By Park Ga-young (gypark@heraldcorp.com)