In January, a South Korean consortium beat the world's biggest nuclear plant builder, France's Areva, to win a US$20-billion ($26-billion) contract to supply four reactors to the United Arab Emirates. It was South Korea's first overseas order. In 20 years' time, South Korea aims to become the world's third-largest nuclear plant exporter. Currently, France, the US, Canada, Japan and Russia are the biggest exporters of atomic generators. What are the secrets to South Korea's nuclear success thus far? According to Mr Scott Peterson, a spokesman for the Nuclear Energy Institute, a key to South Korea's success is using standardised reactors. The country's use of "the same reactor design since 1985" has contributed to its "reducing the time for construction - from 64 months in 1995, to 47 months now, and South Korea is aiming for 39 months", said Mr Peter-son. It has also reduced construction cost by 30 per cent, he added. In its bold expansion plans, "the best chance for South Korea will come in new nuclear countries, for example Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and Middle East countries", Mr Steve Kidd, director of strategy and research at the World Nuclear Association, said in an interview early this year. Venessa Lee
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