Bill Gates, in his role as founder of TerraPower, met with HD Hyundai shipbuilding group Executive Vice President Chung Kisun in Seoul to promote a strategic partnership aimed at commercializing small modular reactor (SMR) propulsion for marine transportation.
The meeting, following an initial meeting in March in the United States, focused on expanding supply chains and developing sodium-cooled fast reactor technology for power generation. HD Hyundai already has a contract to produce vessels for these next-generation reactors, and both teams are aiming to transition to maritime nuclear-powered solutions.
It is noteworthy that Bill Gates, best known for co-founding Microsoft, wrapped up his first visit to Korea in three years following a series of meetings with business leaders there
Before his departure, Gates visited Samsung Electronics’ building in Seoul to meet Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong of the Korean conglomerate, talking about possible ways of cooperation in global social contribution during a lunch with him according to The Korean Times
The newspaper added in its report : A day earlier, Gates attended a dinner hosted by SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won at the conglomerate’s headquarters in Seoul, after meeting Korean policymakers, including President Lee Jae Myung, in his capacity as the chairman of the Gates Foundation, one of the world’s largest charity organizations.
On the other hand HD Hyundai has already unveiled a 15,000 TEU containership design powered by a small modular reactor (SMR), obtained approval in principle from the ABS registry, and has committed over $200 million to develop nuclear-powered vessels by 2030.
The Korean shipbuilder is also exploring the possibility of developing floating nuclear barge platforms, such as a 240 MW SMR-powered vessel project and an above-ground hydrogen production platform, which have already received ABS in-principle approval
According to SK Group, Gates emphasized the need for the Korean government to establish regulatory frameworks and supply chains for next-generation SMRs, saying he expects SK and TerraPower to lead the global market.
Related :The project of the first nuclear-powered container ship
