Korea-UAE nuclear tie-up strengthened

UAE students take a class on nuclear power generation at Sudo Electric Technical High School in southern Seoul late last month. / Courtesy of KEPCO

After securing a mega-sized nuclear contract with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Korea is pushing to form a closer partnership with the Middle Eastern country including providing education to foster a highly skilled workforce.

A total of 48 UAE students from the Institute of Applied Technology (IAT) as well as Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research have recently finished a month-long training session on nuclear facilities.

Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) 

KEPCO CEO Kim Ssang-soo

expects that such programs will accelerate the collaboration between the two countries in nuclear power generation in connection to the $20 billion contract.

During the waning days of 2009, KEPCO clinched the mammoth deal with the UAE under which the state-run agency will build four nuclear reactors by 2020 along with other Korean construction corporations. 

``Many of the students will become the main operators of the UAE nuclear reactors in the future. We plan to hold a training session like this every year,’’ KEPCO spokesperson Kim Hye-lim said. 

``Most of them were happy with the education about our nuclear power station or the on-site training, which will take charge of the UAE facilities.’’