Hyundai E&C, Westinghouse Host Nordic Nuclear Symposium in Helsinki
Hyundai Engineering and Westinghouse hosted a Finland-Sweden New Nuclear Construction Symposium in Helsinki, at the offices of Business Finland, the Finnish government agency that promotes trade and investment. The event took place on December 10 and 11 local time and aimed to showcase each company’s capabilities and discuss joint strategies for regional nuclear projects.
Attendees included Hyundai E&C Chief Executive Officer Han Woo Lee and Westinghouse Senior Vice President Joel Eacker, along with Harri Mäki-Reinikka, Finland’s Special Envoy to the Nordic region; Kim Jang-ha, South Korea’s ambassador to Finland; and U.S. Ambassador to Finland Howard Brodie. About 100 participants from Nordic nuclear-related agencies and industry players were present.
Hyundai E&C and Westinghouse have been advancing their European initiatives, following a recent design contract for Bulgaria’s Kozloduy nuclear project and a technical feasibility study begun for Slovenia’s new nuclear project. The two companies also signed a pre-work agreement with Fortum, the Finnish state-owned energy company, to prepare for potential Nordic nuclear construction.
Earlier in the week, Hyundai E&C and Thorizon, a Netherlands-based spin-off from the Dutch Nuclear Research Institute (NRG), announced a strategic collaboration on Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) technology. Thorizon is developing the 100 MW MSR known as Thorizon One. The deal signals broader interest in advanced reactor concepts alongside traditional large-scale plants.
Hyundai E&C said the symposium was designed to highlight how its EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) expertise, combined with Westinghouse’s nuclear technology, could support Nordic energy security and the region’s decarbonization goals. The company described the event as a potential launchpad for long-term cooperation with Finland, Sweden, and other Nordic partners.
For U.S. readers, the events matter because they illustrate ongoing international collaboration to expand nuclear capabilities in Europe, with potential implications for U.S. suppliers and technology providers. Westinghouse remains a major American nuclear technology company, and joint ventures in Europe could affect global supply chains, export opportunities, and regulatory considerations around both traditional light-water reactors and emerging reactor designs such as MSRs.
The Nordic region has been shifting toward greater use of nuclear energy as part of its energy transition and emissions reduction efforts. Finland’s government and Fortum have been actively involved in exploring new nuclear options, while Sweden and other Nordic partners look to diversify their energy mix, enhance grid reliability, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Helsinki event underscores how public institutions, host governments, and international firms are aligning to pursue these goals.