South Korea champions nuclear energy at home and abroad

Even as the global nuclear industry, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), came together to maintain the safety of the Fukushima nuclear power plants in Japan and to mitigate the impact of the accident that followed an earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, most countries began to reconsider nuclear power. South Korea, however, was quick to organise an inspection of its nuclear power plants and to launch an action plan. A new organisation, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, was launched under direct presidential  control in order to reinforce overall nuclear safety and security. Not surprisingly, at the  UN nuclear safety meeting the following September, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak announced, “Despite the Fukushima accident  and following concerns over nuclear energy, Korea will actively utilise nuclear energy to promote our ‘low carbon, green growth’ policy. Korea will be a promoter of nuclear energy in the world.” South Korea has the world’s fifth largest nuclear fleet. In the first half of this year, Shin-Wolsong Unit 1 and Shin-Kori Unit 2 started commercial operations — in total, 23 nuclear power plants are in operation with a total production capacity of 20,716MW. Nine plants, five in Korea and four abroad, are under construction while six more are scheduled for construction in South Korea by 2023. Construction on the first two of South Korea’s home-grown. Generation III APR1400 Reactors — Shin Kori units 3 and 4 —has gone smoothly. Once completed in 2013 and 2014 respectively, they will serve as reference plants for reactors under construction around the world.The Shin-Ulchin 1 and 2 reactors — another APR1400 project — are expected to be completed by 2016. The APR1400 reactors have been selected for export under the nuclear en-ergy programme.. The South Korean nuclear power project was launched with the 600MWeclass Kori Unit 1 in 1978 and a total of 23 units were constructed in the past three decades. Six 600 to 700MWe-class units and 15 950 to 1000MWe-class units are now operational. Construction on two additional 1000MWe units was initiated recently.

Excellent performance and technological self-reliance contributed to the development of the Optimised Power Reactor 1000(OPR1000), the former Korean Standard Nuclear Power Plant, which was eventually replaced by the Advanced Power Reactor 1400 (APR1400), an evolutionary ressurised water reactor with a thermal output of 4000MWth. Countries and nuclear programmes deploying the APR1400 stand to benefit from low construction costs and a short construction time. South Korea’s experience and expertise  can facilitate the timely delivery of equipment, prompt maintenance service, and proper support during construction and operation. South Korea’s experience in self-reliance and localisation of nuclear technology can also be drawn upon. The nation  cooperates with 21 international nuclear institutions such as the IAEA, the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), and the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO). The country has also  contributed to the safe operation of nuclear plants by entering into technical agreements with ten overseas nuclear power plants. South Korea’s plants play an active role in the Mena, and with the increase in the region’s power demand, the 5,600MW-APR1400 project will be significant for both South Korea and the UAE.

— The author is Senior Vice-President at Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO) and the manager responsible for overseas nuclear project development.