South Korean Prime Minister Han Seong-sook met Bill Gates, chairman of TerraPower, in Seoul on Friday to discuss cooperation on small modular reactors and energy solutions for the artificial intelligence era.
Han said securing sufficient electricity would be critical as South Korea pushes ahead with three major projects to accelerate the country's AI transformation. The government is exploring an energy mix that includes renewable power and small modular reactors, or SMRs, she said.
Han also welcomed cooperation between TerraPower and South Korean companies and research institutions across the SMR supply chain, from investment to manufacturing and construction.
Gates said South Korea's experience in building and operating nuclear power plants, as well as its ability to carry out large-scale projects, could help advance global carbon-neutrality efforts and the development of an innovative SMR ecosystem. He pledged to strengthen TerraPower's strategic partnerships with Korean companies.
TerraPower, founded by Gates in 2008, is developing its sodium-cooled Natrium reactor. South Korea has also enacted legislation to foster its SMR industry and support earlier commercialization.
cheesuk@heraldcorp.com