South Korea says to partner up with UAE, US to win Saudi nuclear project

South Korea said it will cooperate with United Arab Emirates and the United States to win a bid for Saudi Arabia's first nuclear plant project, after state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) was shortlisted along with four other bidders, Yonhap News has reported.

The state-run KEPCO is planning a roadshow on nuclear plants by September in Riyadh and Dammam.

“The strategic collaboration with the USA is more convenient than France, Russia and China,” the South Korean ministry of commerce, industry and energy told the news agency, adding that the UAE was also named after the successful start-up of the Baraka nuclear energy plant in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra region.

Saudi Arabia selected South Korea, the US, France, Russia and China as preferred bidders for the Kingdom's first nuclear project, the ministry said.

The Kingdom plans to build two nuclear reactors with a total generating capacity of up to 2.8 GW by 2030 and is expected to pick a winner next year, the ministry added.