HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has signed a Framework Agreement with the U.S.-based nuclear innovation company TerraPower to manufacture components for its Natrium reactor. 

This agreement follows an initial strategic partnership established in March of last year. Under the agreement, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has been selected as the preferred manufacturer for the Natrium Reactor Enclosure System. 

The project will begin with the production of First-of-a-Kind components, with plans to transition into serial manufacturing of subsequent units. The signing ceremony included Kwang-shik Won, Senior Executive Vice President and COO of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, and Chris Levesque, President and CEO of TerraPower. 

This development is the result of a year-long joint study between the two companies that evaluated manufacturing feasibility, cost, and delivery schedules for the reactor components. In addition to the supply agreement, HD Hyundai signed a separate tripartite Memorandum of Understanding with TerraPower and Hyundai Engineering & Construction. 

This agreement focuses on cooperation for next-generation nuclear power projects. The companies intend to work together to establish a foundation for engineering, procurement, and construction services, as well as the supply of equipment for potential projects in the United States and other international markets.

Basis for entering global nuclear market

The Natrium reactor is a fourth-generation Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor developed by TerraPower. The company views establishing a stable supply chain for the Reactor Enclosure System as a priority for deploying its power plants.  

Kwang-shik Won stated that the Framework Agreement reinforces the collaboration with TerraPower and provides a basis for entering the global nuclear market. He noted that the companies would work to ensure the delivery of equipment and the establishment of a production base.

Chris Levesque added that the agreement ensures the production capacity required to support the company’s plans to build Natrium plants in the US and globally. 

“HD Hyundai’s manufacturing expertise and commitment to continuous improvement give us confidence in our ability to deliver resilient, reliable and affordable nuclear energy for our customers at scale,” noted Levesque.

This partnership aligns with the broader industry effort to move next-generation nuclear reactors from design and testing phases into commercial deployment. By securing a manufacturing partner early, the companies aim to streamline the construction process and prepare for the requirements of scaling up production. 

The companies have not yet announced specific timelines for the completion of the first units, but the framework provides a structured approach for future manufacturing and procurement activities.

Accelerating nuclear innovation

Earlier, TerraPower and digital engineering firm SoftServe unveiled an AI-powered platform that reduces the timeline for advanced nuclear plant development.

By leveraging NVIDIA Omniverse, the companies demonstrated that site-specific engineering work that traditionally takes 18 months can now be completed in eight weeks. 

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has already approved the construction of TerraPower’s Natrium reactor in Wyoming, clearing the way for the first commercial-scale advanced nuclear plant of its kind in the United States. The permit covers Kemmerer Unit 1, a 345-megawatt sodium-cooled fast reactor.