[2025 Management Evaluation] KHNP Excels in AI Utilization... Earns Grade A for Third Consecutive Year

2025 Public Institution Management Evaluation Results
New 1.5-Point Bonus Introduced for Innovation, Including AI Utilization
"KHNP Actively Applies AI to Nuclear Plant Operations"

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) received an Excellent (A) grade in the 2025 public institution management evaluation. This marks the third consecutive year that KHNP has been recognized as an excellent institution, following similar results in 2023 and 2024. KHNP actively utilized artificial intelligence (AI) in nuclear power plant operations, earning high marks in the newly established AI Innovation Bonus Indicator in this year's evaluation.

On June 19, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Koo Yuncheol, held the 7th Public Institution Management Committee and announced the '2025 Public Institution Management Performance Evaluation Results.'

The Asia Business Daily Database

KHNP was evaluated as Grade A. The company attributes this result to increased operational performance due to higher utilization rates at nuclear power plants last year, as well as the active adoption of AI, both of which were reflected in this evaluation. In fact, KHNP’s revenue in the previous year reached 15.4963 trillion won, a 13.92% increase compared to the same period the year before. Operating profit rose to 2.5241 trillion won, up 57.58%, while net profit for the period surged by 185.9% to 1.6374 trillion won in one year.

For the 2025 evaluation, a 1.5-point bonus for innovative achievements using AI was newly introduced. KHNP was mentioned as an exemplary case in this field. A Ministry of Economy and Finance official stated, “In the case of KHNP, they have introduced a system that uses AI to prevent unplanned stoppages in nuclear plant operations. We could confirm that AI is actively utilized in operations. However, rather than AI alone being the decisive factor in raising the grade, it played a supporting role, allowing high-performing institutions to receive even better grades.”

It appears that the company’s overseas business achievements, in line with the government’s policy to restore the nuclear power ecosystem, were also reflected in this evaluation. In July 2024, KHNP was selected as the preferred bidder for the Dukovany Units 5·6 New Nuclear Power Plant Project in the Czech Republic and signed the final contract in June 2025. The Czech nuclear power plant order is considered the largest export achievement for Korean nuclear power in 15 years, since the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant order from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2009.

The Dukovany nuclear power project is a mega-project to build two nuclear units in Dukovany, located about 200 kilometers southeast of Prague, Czech Republic. KHNP signed the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) main contract with the client, EDUII, in June last year. The total project cost, based on the construction of two nuclear units, is approximately 27 trillion won—more than double the 12 trillion won typically required for similar projects in Korea. The entire project cost will be financed and provided by the Czech government.

Recently, to mark the first anniversary of the Dukovany nuclear power project contract, KHNP President Kim Hoechun visited the Czech Republic in person to inspect the project’s implementation status. He attended the 2nd meeting of the ‘Dukovany Project Implementation Review Council’ held by the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade to check the current status and future plans of the Dukovany nuclear project and to discuss measures for timely execution and strengthened bilateral cooperation. He also visited Doosan Skoda Power, a leading Czech power equipment company located in Plzen, about 90 kilometers from Prague. Doosan Skoda Power signed a contract in February with Doosan Enerbility to supply steam turbines for Dukovany Units 5 and 6.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.