Bill Gates, in his role as founder of TerraPower, met with HD Hyundai’s executive vice-chairman Chung Kisun in Seoul today to further a strategic partnership aiming to commercialise small modular reactor (SMR) propulsion.
The meeting—after their March rendezvous in the US—centred on scaling up supply chains and advancing Natrium sodium-cooled fast reactor tech for power generation. HD Hyundai is already contracted to produce reactor vessels for these next-gen reactors, with both teams eyeing a shift toward nuclear-powered maritime solutions.
Chung hailed the pact as a “turning point” in global nuclear supply chains. TerraPower CEO Chris Levesque echoed the confidence, citing HD Hyundai’s manufacturing muscle as critical to market rollout.
HD Hyundai has already unveiled a 15,000 teu containership model powered by SMR, earned ABS approval in principle, and earmarked KRW300bn ($206 m) to develop nuclear-powered vessels by 2030.
The Korean shipbuilder is also exploring floating nuclear barge platforms—like a 240 MW SMR-powered ship concept and a hydrogen production topside platform—that have already secured ABS approval in principle.