Prime Minister Chung expressed his own interest in following through on a potential agreement with Alternate Energy Holdings as soon as possible
– By Linton Levy –
Alternate Energy Holdings, Inc. CEO Don Gillispie remains in negotiations with Korean officials over the importing of Korean-made nuclear reactors into the U.S. market.
It was a focus of a recent week-long trip to Korea, during which Gillispie also met with officials with KEPCO (Korea Electric Power Corporation).
While there, Gillispie also met with Korean Prime Minister Un-Chan Chung. During that meeting Chung expressed his own interest in following through on a potential agreement with Alternate Energy Holdings as soon as possible.
This proposed agreement has been one of great discussion for the past year. During that time Gillispie has worked with Korean officials on the benefits of exporting their advanced reactor. In a previous statement, Gillespie said, "We are pleased to have played a small part in encouraging the Koreans to export their superior reactor and now we would like to complete our negotiations to bring the APR 1400 into the U.S. for the first time including helping achieve NRC design certification."
If Gillispie is successful in his talks with Korea, it would mean an eventual partnership that would include commissions for AEHI on any Korean-made reactor sold in North America.
Word of Gillispie's trip to Korea was also one of intense media interest. He was interviewed for the largest television station in Korea (SBS), as well as the biggest newspaper (The Chosunilbo Daily). Although produced in the Korean language, the story and portions of the interview can be seen here.
The Korean-made APR 1400 has been of great interest lately. It is the same reactor currently in production under an agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In late December Korea signed a $20.9 billion deal to build four reactors for the UAE. The reactor is not only of the highest quality, but it sells for billions of dollars less than its competitors.
Alternate Energy Holdings develops and markets innovative clean energy sources. The company is the nation's only publicly traded independent nuclear power plant developer willing to build power plants in non-nuclear states. Other projects include, Energy Neutral which removes energy demands from homes and businesses (www.energyneutralinc.com), Colorado Energy Park (nuclear and solar generation), and International Reactors, which assists developing countries with nuclear reactors for power generation, production of potable water and other suitable applications. AEHI China, headquartered in Beijing, develops joint ventures to produce nuclear plant components and consults on nuclear power. AEHI Korea, Seoul, is helping negotiate with KEPCO.