Hansuwon President Holds Press Conference at Government Sejong Complex
"High-Level Radioactive Waste Special Act Must Be Enacted in February National Assembly"
Hwang Ju-ho, President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, emphasized that "the enactment of the High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Special Act can no longer be delayed" and stressed the urgency of its passage within the term of the 21st National Assembly.
On the 20th, President Hwang held a press conference at the Government Complex Sejong and stated, "The spent nuclear fuel storage facility at Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant will reach capacity in about six years, in 2030," adding, "In that case, nuclear power plant operations will have to be halted, which could ultimately lead to an increase in electricity bills for the public."
The core of the High-Level Special Act is to establish policies for managing high-level radioactive waste and to set procedures and responsibilities for safely managing such waste, including selecting sites for permanent disposal facilities. The bill was first proposed in September 2021 by Kim Seong-hwan, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, along with other party members during the Moon Jae-in administration. Subsequently, on August 31, 2022, Kim Young-sik of the People Power Party introduced a similar bill, followed by Lee In-seon of the same party the next day. However, all three bills remain pending in the Industry, Trade, Small and Medium Venture Businesses Committee.
Hwang Ju-ho, President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, emphasized the urgent enactment of the High-Level Radioactive Waste Special Act during a briefing at the Government Sejong Complex on the 20th.
President Hwang stated, "The High-Level Special Act is an essential task that the current generation must solve regardless of pro- or anti-nuclear power stances. Failure to secure a disposal site in a timely manner will shift the burden to future generations," and added, "The High-Level Special Act must be enacted during the February extraordinary session of the National Assembly."
Cho Sung-don, Chairman of the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency, also expressed to reporters the day before, "The enactment of the High-Level Special Act cannot be delayed any further," warning, "If the bill is not passed in the 21st National Assembly and is automatically discarded, it will have to be reintroduced in the 22nd National Assembly, delaying the spent nuclear fuel processing procedures by at least two more years."
The fact that President Hwang, head of the nuclear power plant operating organization, and Chairman Cho, responsible for the operation and management of radioactive waste, have both directly emphasized the necessity of the enactment reflects concerns that delays in the special act could lead to the saturation of spent nuclear fuel storage facilities within nuclear power plants, potentially causing plant shutdowns.
After producing electricity through nuclear power plants, high-level nuclear waste such as spent nuclear fuel is generated. In South Korea, there is no disposal facility for this waste, so temporary storage facilities are constructed within the nuclear power plants themselves. The problem is that these temporary storage facilities will also reach capacity in a few years.
According to Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, on-site storage facilities will reach capacity starting with Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant in 2030, followed by Hanul in 2031, Kori in 2032, Shin-Wolsong in 2042, and Saeul in 2066. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power expressed concerns that if the special act is not enacted and the licensing and construction of dry storage facilities are delayed, the increased costs of managing spent nuclear fuel will lead to a greater financial burden on the public through higher electricity bills.
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power plans to hold a nationwide rally at the National Assembly on the 23rd to urge the enactment of the High-Level Special Act, gathering opinions and support from various sectors. About 400 people are expected to attend, including lawmakers Kim Seong-won, Lee In-seon, and Kim Young-sik who proposed the special act, Choi Nam-ho, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Jung Jae-hak, President of the Radioactive Waste Society, and members of the public supporting the enactment.
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