[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Party, said on the 7th, "Carbon neutrality without nuclear power is a fiction."
On the same day at the National Assembly, Candidate Ahn stated, "We will achieve carbon neutrality through a super-gap innovative small modular reactor (SMR)." He said, "Given Korea’s situation, renewable energy has limitations in being a stable and cheap alternative energy source, so I am convinced that nuclear energy is essential to respond to the climate crisis and achieve the 2050 carbon neutrality goal."
He explained, "SMRs are evaluated as next-generation energy sources that can be used 24 hours a day, complementing the energy supply instability of renewable energy with high safety and low cost," adding, "Because SMRs are designed and manufactured in modular form, they have shorter construction periods and lower costs compared to large nuclear power plants, and are about 1,000 times safer."
Candidate Ahn said, "The next government must realize our carbon neutrality goals through focused investment in SMRs and securing super-gap technology, strengthen the status of a science and technology-centered nation, and lead the global nuclear power market."
To this end, he promised ▲ promotion of a national project for innovative SMR technology development ▲ restructuring the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy into the Ministry of Industry, Resources and Energy ▲ readjustment of the 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for greenhouse gas reduction ▲ strengthening Korea-US nuclear cooperation ▲ and resuming construction of Hanul and Shinhanul Units 3 and 4.
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