Gwangju and Jeonnam Environmental Groups Urge Suspension of Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant Life Extension

Nuclear Phase-Out and Energy Transition: A Path to Coexistence

Government Must Stop 'Nuclear Promotion Policy' Now

Environmental organizations, including the Honam Region Joint Action in Response to Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant, strongly urged the suspension of the lifespan extension of the aging Units 1 and 2 nuclear reactors on the 13th anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan on the 11th.

On the 11th, a rally to stop the life extension of Yeonggwang Hanbit Units 1 and 2 was held.
[Photo by Kim Geon-wan yacht@]

These groups held a rally called the "Stop Lifespan Extension of Yeonggwang Hanbit Units 1 and 2" in front of the Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant in Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do, demanding, "The government must halt the lifespan extension procedures for Hanbit Units 1 and 2 and decommission them."

In their resolution, they pointed out, "Who can guarantee that a catastrophe like Fukushima will not occur at Hanbit Units 1 and 2, aging nuclear power facilities that have exceeded their 40-year lifespan?"

They added, "The government stubbornly insists on nuclear promotion policies, focusing on enacting special laws for the nuclear industry and financial support for constructing new nuclear power plants," and emphasized, "We cannot coexist with nuclear power; only denuclearization and energy transition are the paths for everyone to live."

Kim Yong-guk, former executive committee member of the Yeonggwang Joint Action, stated, "Stop the public inspection of the draft of the faulty radiation environmental impact assessment report for Hanbit Units 1 and 2 immediately."

Meanwhile, the government's 11th Basic Plan for Electricity aims to extend the lifespan of 18 aging nuclear reactors and build new nuclear power plants, increasing the share of nuclear power to 32.4% by 2030.