▲ From 19 to 24 (local time), Hyundai E&C signed a series of partnership agreements with major local builders in Chicago and Washington, D.C.

▲ It is accelerating the expansion of its global nuclear power footprint in Europe and North America, backed by a strong Korea-U.S. energy partnership.

Hyundai E&C is accelerating its entry into the U.S. nuclear power market, taking steps to secure a strategic foothold locally.

Between June 19 and 24 (local time), the Korean builder signed a series of agreements with prominent local construction firms in Chicago and Washington, D.C. Led by CEO Lee Han-woo, Hyundai E&C’s leadership held meetings with several U.S. construction executives for six days to forge partnerships and explore strategies to strengthen its market competitiveness.

Hyundai E&C signed partnership agreements with several U.S. construction companies, some of which are top-ranked by ENR and others known for their extensive experience in nuclear power projects, including firms such as Whiting-Turner, DPR Construction, Clayco, Zachry, Alberici, Evans General Contractors, CB&I, and BrandSafway.

These agreements will enable Hyundai E&C to work with highly trusted local firms across key aspects of U.S. nuclear projects, including ▲ design and engineering review ▲ local permits and regulatory compliance ▲ procurement and process management ▲ construction and commissioning. The company plans to maximize its project execution capabilities by creating synergies with each partner’s technological expertise and business competitiveness.

Hyundai E&C is speeding up its global nuclear expansion through strong partnerships with U.S. firms like Westinghouse and Holtec. Following a 2022 strategic agreement with Westinghouse for joint entry into the large nuclear power plant (AP1000®) market, the partnership has produced visible outcomes, including the Kozloduy nuclear plant design contract in Bulgaria, and Hyundai E&C is also expanding its footprint to Finland, Slovenia, and Sweden.

Recently, the U.S. government announced plans to quadruple nuclear power capacity by 2050, simplify the licensing process for new nuclear power plants, and ease other regulations, along with plans to begin construction on 10 new nuclear reactors by 2030. Westinghouse, which has experience in nuclear power plant construction in the U.S., is being touted as a leading candidate to implement these plans, and its strategic partner Hyundai E&C is also looking forward to entering the U.S. nuclear power market.

In response, Hyundai E&C plans to enter a strategic partnership model with leading local builders to build a close cooperative system and proactively prepare the necessary frameworks for project execution, including securing human networks, supply chains, and personnel management.

A Hyundai E&C official stated, “The distinct nuclear power plant construction capabilities and risk management expertise demonstrated through the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the UAE and major domestic nuclear projects represent Hyundai E&C’s core competitiveness. Based on this agreement, we will strengthen our cooperation framework with experienced local companies to establish a foothold for stable entry into the U.S. market.”

1) ENR (Engineering News-Record) is a leading U.S. construction and engineering journal that publishes annual rankings of global and U.S. construction firms based on performance, serving as a key benchmark of industry status.