[Yonhap Photo]
SEOUL, Jan. 09 (Aju News) -- South Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) discussed their joint bid for Saudi Arabia's nuclear project Tuesday and other issues related to nuclear cooperation between the two countries, officials said.
The discussion was made at talks between Paik Un-gyu, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, a special envoy of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Paik's office said.
Al Mubarak, chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority of Abu Dhabi, responded favorably to a South Korean proposal for cooperation in nuclear and solar energy that included a joint bid for a Saudi project to build nuclear reactors.
As the world's biggest crude exporter, Saudi Arabia seeks to diversify energy supplies and reduce its dependence on hydrocarbons. Construction will start next year on two plants.
Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), which produces home-made nuclear reactors, has been building four reactors for UAE's first nuclear power station under a $20 billion contract. South Korean President Moo Jae-in hopes to attend a ceremony for the completion of the first reactor this year.
At a separate lunch meeting with Im Jong-seok, the presidential chief of staff, Al Mubarak agreed to upgrade bilateral ties into a comprehensive strategic relationship.
"The United Arab Emirates is the only country in the Middle East, with which we have a strategic partnership, and we have agreed to develop the relationship into a more comprehensive strategic partnership," Im told reporters.
Al Mubarak later visited Moon to relay a message and invitation from the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the president's office said.
Initially, Moon's policy of phasing out nuclear power plants had clouded prospects for South Korea's nuclear industry. However, Moon eased his stance, promising to "actively" support exports of home-made reactors.
In December last year, Japan's Toshiba in charge of building nuclear reactors in Britain selected KEPCO as its preferred bidder. The British project has been in trouble due to the bankruptcy of Toshiba's U.S. subsidiary Westinghouse Electric.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
