Officials in South Korea have announced a new initiative to increase production of nuclear reactors for sale on the global market. The news comes on the heels of an announcement by France to phase-out nuclear power use, a controversial move that could risk as many as 2 million jobs in the future.
In announcing its Nu-Tech 2030 plan, South Korea said it plans to become the world’s third largest exporter of nuclear reactors by 2030 and create nearly 1 million jobs as a result, according to Yonhap News.
The country said it will develop three key nuclear technologies to make sure its reactors are some of the most sought after in the world. South Korea has exported only one reactor so far, to the United Arab Emirates in 2009.
Meanwhile, calls to eliminate nuclear power production in France is being met with mixed reaction, according to Bloomberg Businessweek.
The European country’s Green and Socialist parties have called for the closure of 24 nuclear reactors by 2025.
Proponents of the alternative energy source said pulling out of nuclear energy would deal a severe blow to the industry since France currently depends on it for more than three-quarters of its power needs.