Korea vows to bolster energy cooperation with Poland, Czech Republic at Davos

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

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Sun, October 1, 2023 | 18:39

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Korea vows to bolster energy cooperation with Poland, Czech Republic at Davos

Posted : 2023-01-18 23:30

Updated : 2023-01-19 11:49

Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee Chang-yang, left, talks to Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State Assets Jacek Sasin, right, in a meeting room at Polish House in Davos, Switzerland, Wednesday (local time). Yonhap

By Lee Kyung-min

Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee Chang-yang held a series of bilateral meetings with his Polish and Czech counterparts at the World Economic Forum, otherwise known as the Davos Forum, held in Switzerland from Monday through Friday (local time), the ministry said Wednesday.

At the top of the agenda items were ways to solidify and advance cooperation in the nuclear energy sector, forming grounds for a stronger partnership in green and sustainable energy businesses.

Lee met with Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State Assets Jacek Sasin to fortify stronger nuclear energy sector cooperation.

The meeting was a follow-up to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the energy authorities and private firm executives of the two countries last October in Seoul to facilitate the construction of a nuclear power plant in Patnow, central Poland.

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The ministry said the trust between the two countries was strong, as evidenced by comments from Sasin who said in October that the letter of intent (LOI) signed between Korea and Poland translating into material outcomes had a chance of "100 percent."

Similarly, Lee cemented energy ties with the Czech Minister of Industry and Deputy Prime Minister, Josef Sekela, the figure with authority and discretion to advance Korea's export of nuclear reactors to the central European country.

Lee reiterated that Korea's capabilities in the construction and maintenance of 36 nuclear reactors over the past 40 years will help the Czech Republic's energy needs.

The two further stressed the need to expand cooperation into research & development (R&D) efforts so as to foster high-tech energy and manufacturing industries including hydrogen, electric vehicles (EVs), batteries and semiconductors.

"Korea has the ability to oversee the construction and maintenance of the world's best, economical nuclear power facilities in the shortest amount of time," Lee said. "The successful outcome overseas will not only advance Korea's export drive but also contribute greatly to the energy security of its peers and carbon neutrality."

lkm@koreatimes.co.kr