South Korea is to get its first nuclear hydrogen production plant by 2027 following the signing of a cooperation agreement on Wednesday (19 June) by some of the country’s largest corporations.

Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Samsung C&T, Doosan Energy and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) were among the eight companies that agreed to build the 10 MW pilot plant using $21m (€19.6m) of government funding from the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry.

The announcement came as president Yoon Suk Yeol unveiled plans to create a small modular reactor (SMR) industrial hub in the coastal city of Gyeongju in the southeastern of the country. The government also aims to establish a hub for the hydrogen industry in the province.