Gaon Cable to make nuclear power plant cables in US

Gaon Cable, a subsidiary of LS Group, plans to establish production lines for nuclear power plant cables at its U.S. facility in North Carolina, according to a statement made on Monday. The Korean cable manufacturer claims that its U.S. subsidiary, LS Cable & System U.S.A., will install the necessary equipment at its plant in Tarboro, North Carolina.

This strategic move aims to establish a local supply system in anticipation of the anticipated growth of the U.S. market for large nuclear plants and small modular reactors (SMRs), which are compact reactors that can be manufactured in factories and assembled in modules.

The Tarboro plant is currently engaged in the production of overhead power lines for the U.S. grid. By incorporating nuclear cables into their product range, Gaon Cable aims to diversify its offerings and strengthen its presence in the local market. The company highlighted that the U.S. supply chain for nuclear plant equipment, including cables, remains relatively limited due to the absence of new reactor constructions in the country for several decades.

However, the interest in new reactors has witnessed a resurgence as electricity demand increases, driven by the burgeoning artificial intelligence data centers and the growing emphasis on energy security.

As the demand for nuclear power expands, Gaon Cable's decision to invest in the production of nuclear cables at its U.S. plant in North Carolina demonstrates the company's proactive approach to capitalizing on the anticipated growth in the market.