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Panoramic view of Gaon Cable's U.S. manufacturing subsidiary, LSCUS. / Gaon Cable

Gaon Cable is entering the U.S. nuclear power plant cable market. As surging power demand driven by the expansion of AI data centers has renewed focus in the United States on constructing conventional large-scale reactors and small modular reactors (SMRs), the company aims to tap into the nuclear equipment supply chain by leveraging its local manufacturing footprint. Building on its existing transmission grid cables, Gaon Cable plans to broaden its production lineup to include nuclear-grade cables, expanding its North American power infrastructure business.

According to Gaon Cable on the 12th, its U.S. manufacturing subsidiary, LSCUS, plans to build production facilities for nuclear-grade cables at its Tarboro plant in North Carolina. To prepare for growth in the U.S. nuclear and SMR markets, the company will establish a local production system and pursue the necessary regulatory certifications.

Because new nuclear plant construction in the United States had been limited for an extended period, the domestic supply chain for critical equipment and materials, including specialized cables, remains underdeveloped. Recently, however, reactor construction has regained momentum as power consumption at AI data centers climbs and the strategic importance of energy security grows. Gaon Cable plans to capitalize on this shift by establishing a local manufacturing base to supply nuclear-grade cables directly within the U.S. market.

Nuclear power cables require a wider variety of product types and more rigorous performance standards than standard power cables. Depending on the design, a single nuclear reactor requires more than 50,000 power, control, and instrumentation cable circuits, each necessitating different specifications according to installation location and functional purpose. Gaon Cable intends to meet this high-mix, low-volume demand by combining its extensive manufacturing expertise in specialty cables with its local production facilities.

To penetrate the U.S. nuclear market, the company is also pursuing cooperation with domestic Korean nuclear energy firms. LSCUS plans to secure the necessary certifications for nuclear cables and capitalize on opportunities to supply critical equipment and materials as South Korean enterprises expand their participation in U.S. nuclear projects.

Beyond new plant construction, the replacement of aging cables at existing nuclear facilities represents another major source of future demand. As extended reactor operations become more common, demand will continue to emerge for cables needed to maintain and repair existing infrastructure. Gaon Cable plans to target both the new construction market for large-scale reactors and SMRs as well as the maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) market for operating plants.

An official from Gaon Cable stated, "As the expansion of the U.S. nuclear market and the participation of Korean companies in U.S. projects gain full momentum, new opportunities are expected to open up for local equipment and material suppliers. Building on our extensive track record in producing power and control cables, alongside LSCUS's local manufacturing base, we will aggressively pursue the U.S. nuclear power market."

                                                                                                            Lee Seo-yeon