By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
The leaders of South Korea and Kazakhstan agreed Thursday to cooperate for the peaceful use of nuclear energy, paving the way for Korea's exports of commercial reactors to the Central Asian country.
In a summit at Cheong Wa Dae, President Lee Myung-bak and his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed the possibility of joint projects to mine uranium and develop nuclear reactors, the presidential office said.
They shared a common understanding on the ``great potential for cooperation between Seoul and Astana for the development of nuclear energy,'' the office said in a press release.
The two countries agreed to seek an active partnership for the joint development of uranium mines and research on the System-Integrated Modular Advanced Reactor (SMART), an advanced 330-megawatt pressurized water power reactor invented by South Korea.
The accord is a major accomplishment for the country's nuclear industry following Korea's signing of a $20 billion contract last year to build nuclear plants in the United Arab Emirates.
Korea aims to garner $400 billion in nuclear plant deals by 2030, nurturing the sector into a major economic growth engine.
Kazakhstan is the world's second largest holder of uranium reserves, while Korea is the sixth largest consumer of the material. Seoul is currently operating 20 nuclear reactors nationwide, meeting nearly 40 percent of its total energy needs.
Korea and Kazakhstan agreed to make joint efforts to promote safe and peaceful use of nuclear energy worldwide, Cheong Wa Dae said.
Lee and Nazarbayev expressed satisfaction at the progress of joint projects to construct a thermal plant near Balkhash Lake and explore the Jambil oil block in the Caspian Sea.
They also decided to expand long-term partnerships on various fronts such as infrastructure, petroleum, the defense industry, information and technology, transportation, health care, agriculture and tourism.
The Kazakh leader arrived in Seoul on Wednesday for a three-day visit.
Upon arrival, he attended a ceremony to mark Korea's designation of the Year of Kazakhstan in 2010.
He also met with National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o, Prime Minister Chung Un-chan and business leaders here.