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The state-owned Korean Electric Power Corp. said there is little chance it would cut a deal with an Idaho-based firm to export nuclear reactors to the United States.
The report, in the Korea Times, said reports by Eagle-cased Alternative Energy Holdings, Inc. that it was near finalizing an agreement were exaggerated.
"We don't see much likelihood of a deal," a KEPCO spokeswoman told The Korea Times. "I'm afraid AEHI is going a bit too far in promoting it."
The report comes on the eve of a decision Thursday by the Payette County Planning and Zoning Commission on a recommendation to its county commissioners on AEHI's request for a zoning change to allow its proposed nuclear plant to move forward.
The KEPCO spokeswoman raised the same concerns Idaho opponents have raised about the viability of the company in the Korea Times story.
"The nuclear industry deals with massive projects and is sensitive to safety. If we are to strike a deal with a private company, we would want a more sizeable one," she said.
An AEHI spokesman said Gillispie was skeptical about the reports because everyone involved in the negotiations sign a nondisclosure document.
"We think what they are saying is not accurate," said Dan Hamilton of AEHI.
Payette County opponents, who are not anti-nuclear power, said the exchange is just the latest in a long line of exaggerated press releases over the last several years.
"It appears the Koreans have quite reasonably decided that continuing to talk with a three year old company with no customers and essentially zero assets is a waste of their valuable time," said Jim Underwood, spokesman for People for Payette's Future. "After three years and three counties it is time for the citizens and public officials of Idaho to reach the same conclusion."
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