At the opening session, Thomas Hardy, Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), delivered opening remarks.
Following the opening session, a signing ceremony was held, during which several memoranda of understanding (MOUs) for corporate cooperation were concluded. First, Mitsubishi Electric, U.S.-based Holtec International, and Hyundai Engineering & Construction of South Korea signed an MOU on cooperation for the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) in Southeast Asia.
GE Vernova and Hitachi subsequently signed an MOU to cooperate in exploring market development and commercial opportunities for the introduction of the BWRX-300 SMR in Southeast Asia. Through their respective joint venture companies, the two firms will work together to analyze the potential for SMR deployment in the region and examine the establishment of a supply chain that includes Japanese companies. The initiative aims to support the use of nuclear power as a decarbonized energy source in Southeast Asia, where energy demand is expected to grow.
INADA Yasunori, Executive Vice President and CEO of Hitachi’s Nuclear Business Unit, stated:
“Hitachi has contributed to the nuclear industry by leveraging the expertise cultivated through our long-standing partnership with GE Vernova. By advancing studies on the introduction of the BWRX-300 in Southeast Asia, we hope to further expand these efforts.”
