Lee Chang-yang "Painful Thoughts on Nuclear Phase-Out... Positive Evaluation of K Nuclear Power Overseas"
Minister Lee Chang-yang of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy is delivering opening remarks at the 1st Emergency Economic Ministers' Meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 19th of last month. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Lee Junhyung] Lee Chang-yang, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, criticized the Moon Jae-in administration's 'nuclear phase-out' policy as a "regrettable policy." Having recently conducted 'nuclear power plant sales' in the Czech Republic and Poland, Minister Lee also gave a positive assessment of the future prospects for nuclear power plant exports.
Minister Lee stated this at a press briefing held in Sejong on the 5th. In response to a question about Korea Electric Power Corporation's deficit, he said, "There were unavoidable factors (such as energy prices) that we could not control," adding, "However, I think the government made a mistake in pursuing an excessive nuclear phase-out policy." He further added, "I deeply regret policies like the nuclear phase-out that could have been handled differently."
This is the first time Minister Lee, who has been in office for 50 days, has publicly expressed his position on the nuclear phase-out policy. This indicates that the government's policy direction has become clear. In fact, on the same day (the 5th), the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced the 'New Government Energy Policy Direction,' completely scrapping the 'Energy Transition (Nuclear Phase-out) Roadmap' established by the Moon Jae-in administration. This roadmap, which specified the suspension of new nuclear power plant construction and reduction of nuclear power's share, was regarded as a symbol of the nuclear phase-out policy.
Minister Lee also pointed out the 'over-rapid expansion' of renewable energy. He said, "The previous administration promoted renewable energy extensively to achieve carbon neutrality," adding, "It is necessary to reconsider whether the pace of this expansion was appropriate." This is why the Ministry included a 'rational reestablishment' of renewable energy expansion targets in the new government's energy policy direction.
He viewed Korea's nuclear power plant export prospects positively. Earlier, to support nuclear power plant orders, Minister Lee visited the Czech Republic and Poland from the 27th of last month to the 1st of this month, holding consecutive high-level talks. The Czech Republic and Poland are each pursuing new nuclear power plant construction projects worth approximately 8 trillion won and 40 trillion won, respectively.
Minister Lee said, "A friendly atmosphere has been sufficiently formed in the Czech Republic and Poland," and added, "The evaluation of Korean nuclear power plants overseas is favorable, so I believe the possibility of future exports is high." He also said, "Although we did not directly cooperate on defense exports, I heard from the Ministry of National Defense that there are tangible results," adding, "If defense cooperation such as defense industry collaboration is realized, it can create a synergy effect for nuclear power plant advancement."
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