South Korea Eyes Nuclear-powered Test Ship by 2037

Marine molten salt reactor project makes final R&D feasibility list while MSR project catches last preliminary feasibility study

Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute’s (KAERI) conceptual diagram of a marine molten salt reactor system. [Photo provided by KAERI]

The nuclear-powered ship development project, which the government is developing with the goal of constructing a test vessel in 2037 and securing the first order in 2040, has made it onto the final list for the government’s Research and Development (R&D) Preliminary Feasibility Study.

According to the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) on April 7, MSIT recently, at the National R&D Project Evaluation Steering Committee, selected four projects, including the “Carbon Neutrality-Leading Marine Molten Salt Reactor Technology Development Project” by MSIT and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), as the final subjects for investigation before the abolition of the preliminary feasibility study system.

The government’s R&D Preliminary Feasibility Study, a system that pre-verifies the feasibility of R&D projects only, was abolished in January through a legal amendment, following criticisms that it was unsuitable for R&D projects where speed is crucial and economic viability is less relevant.

Prior to this, MSIT received the final project requests for this year and decided to conclude the preliminary feasibility study system with this final selection of projects.

The MSR (Molten Salt Reactor), one of the fourth-generation reactors, is a reactor that dissolves nuclear fuel material in molten salt mixed with fluorine or chlorine, among other elements, integrating the coolant and nuclear fuel into a single unit.

As it allows for long-term operation, it is expected to be utilized as a power source for ships and other applications, and it is known that the shipbuilding industry, among others, has a strong willingness to participate in the project.

The government also, by designating MSR as one of the 12 “K-Moonshot” missions aimed at solving national challenges with Artificial Intelligence (AI), was assessed as having a high probability of being selected for the preliminary feasibility study.

MSIT and MOF, compared to when the project failed the preliminary feasibility study last year, presented a schedule that shortens the project period by 3 years, and also set forth the goal of commencing test vessel construction in 2035, developing it by 2037, conducting 2 years of test operation, and then pursuing the first order in 2040.

This selection of projects also included the Korea AeroSpace Administration’s (KASA) Naro Space Center Advancement Project to convert the Naro Space Center for next-generation launch vehicles, and the Small Lunar Lander Development Project to send a lunar lander in 2030.

Considering that it is a transitional period from the abolition of the preliminary feasibility study to its conversion into a pre-screening system, MSIT is known to have reduced the preliminary feasibility study investigation period for these projects from the usual 7 months to 5 months.

Jung Suk-yee