Lee Han-woo (left), CEO of Hyundai Engineering & Construction, and Mesut Uzman, CEO of Fermi Nuclear, pose for a commemorative photo after signing the basic design services contract for large-scale nuclear reactors at the “Complex Energy and AI Campus” at Hyundai E&C’s headquarters in Jongno District, Seoul. (Photo provided by Hyundai Engineering & Construction)
SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. has secured the first U.S. large-scale nuclear power project contract awarded to a South Korean company, a move that could significantly expand its presence in the rapidly growing American nuclear market.
The company said Sunday it recently signed a preliminary design agreement with Fermi America, a U.S. energy developer, to build four commercial nuclear reactors at a planned “Complex Energy and AI Campus” near Amarillo, Texas. The facility is envisioned as the world’s largest privately developed power network.
Fermi America aims to establish an 11-gigawatt integrated energy system combining AP1000 nuclear reactors, small modular reactors, gas-fired plants, solar power, and battery storage. The electricity would support an adjacent hyperscale data center designed to handle artificial intelligence applications, according to Hyundai.
Under the contract, Hyundai will conduct initial design work for the four reactors, including site layout, cooling system evaluation, and cost and schedule planning.
The project is currently under review by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Korean builder is preparing for full engineering, procurement and construction negotiations, targeting a final contract by mid-2025.
Company officials framed the deal as a breakthrough in South Korea’s campaign to strengthen its energy cooperation with the United States.
“This agreement confirms Hyundai’s credibility as a trusted nuclear partner in the global energy market,” a company representative said. “We plan to deepen practical collaboration based on the strong energy partnership between our two countries.”
The project underscores intensifying U.S. demand for low-carbon power sources as data centers and artificial intelligence drive electricity consumption sharply higher.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
