Seoul: South Korea's state-run nuclear power firm has been banned from bidding on new power plant projects in North America and Europe due to an intellectual property dispute, as reported by the Seoul-based Yonhap News.

According to Anadolu Agency, Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) is embroiled in an intellectual property dispute with US energy firm Westinghouse. This conflict stems from a January agreement, where Westinghouse accused KHNP of using its licensed technology in their plant designs. Consequently, KHNP is restricted from entering new nuclear power plant contracts in North America, the UK, Japan, Ukraine, and EU nations, with the exception of the Czech Republic.

The agreement with Westinghouse was pivotal in allowing the KHNP-led Korean consortium to secure a 26 trillion won ($18.7 billion) contract in June for building two nuclear power units in the Czech Republic. However, the ongoing dispute has hindered KHNP's expansion efforts in other regions.

The report also highlighted that KHNP President Whang Joo-ho confirmed the closure of the company's operations in Poland. He attributed this decision to the new Polish administration's move to discontinue state-owned enterprise projects within the nuclear power sector. Poland is now the fourth European nation, after Sweden, Slovenia, and the Netherlands, where KHNP has ceased its operations.