NSSC Approves Shin Hanul Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4 After 8 Years Since Application

Construction site of Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 at Hanul Nuclear Power Headquarters, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, Uljin-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do [Image source=Yonhap News]

Construction of Shin Hanul Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4 in Uljin, Gyeongbuk has been approved.

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) announced on the 12th, after holding its 200th meeting, that it has approved the construction plan for Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4.

This nuclear power plant construction marks about eight years since Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power applied for approval in 2016. It is the first new nuclear power plant in 8 years and 3 months since Saewool Units 3 and 4 (formerly Shin Kori Units 5 and 6) in June 2016.

Considering the long suspension of the project, the NSSC updated the technical standards applied in the approval documents to the latest criteria to assess safety. The Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS), a specialized safety regulatory agency under the NSSC, also reviewed the safety of the construction site and confirmed that there are no disasters that could affect the safety of the nuclear power plant.

These results were reported at the NSSC meeting held last month.

Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 are pressurized water reactors (APR1400) with an electric output capacity of 1,400 megawatts (MW). They share the same design as the currently operating Saewool Units 1 and 2 and Shin Hanul Units 1 and 2.