NSSC Approves Construction Plan After 8 Years of Application
KHNP Begins Main Building Construction from the 13th
Perspective view of Shin Hanul Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4. Image courtesy of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd.
The Shin Hanul Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4 in Uljin, Gyeongbuk, regarded as a symbol of restoring the domestic nuclear power ecosystem, has received construction approval after 8 years since the application and will begin full-scale construction.
On the 12th, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) held its 200th meeting and approved the construction plan for Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4. This comes 8 years after Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) applied for construction approval in 2016. Accordingly, domestic nuclear power plants will build new reactors for the first time in 8 years and 3 months since the approval of Saeul Units 3 and 4 (formerly Shin Kori Units 5 and 6) in June 2016. KHNP plans to start construction immediately from the 13th.
The Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4, which received construction approval this time, are pressurized water reactors (APR1400) with an electric output capacity of 1400 MW. They share the same design as the currently operating Saeul Units 1 and 2 and Shin Hanul Units 1 and 2. Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 will be the 7th and 8th APR1400 design reactors built domestically, respectively.
Construction of Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 was halted about a year after the construction approval application in 2017, following the 'Energy Transition Roadmap' under the Moon Jae-in administration, and the review process was suspended. Later, the Yoon Suk-yeol administration declared the resumption of construction in July 2022, and the review process restarted. Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 were included in the 10th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, and in June last year, received implementation plan approval from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy under the Power Development Promotion Act.
The NSSC confirmed safety based on prior safety reviews of preceding reactors and focused on differences in design compared to earlier reactors due to the application of the latest technical standards. Considering the 5-year suspension of the project after KHNP's construction approval application, the application date for technical standards was changed from 2013 to 2021.
The Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) reviewed the safety of the construction site and found no geological disasters that could affect safety. The site elevation is higher than the maximum tsunami water level, confirming secured safety. The KINS review results were preliminarily examined for six months by the Nuclear Safety Expert Committee, composed of 15 experts, and related information was reported at the recent NSSC meeting.
Heo Gyun-young, chairman of the NSSC and professor of nuclear engineering at Kyung Hee University, attended the meeting via video conference and said, "We have reached the conclusion that safety standards are sufficiently met," adding, "Long-term impacts such as climate change and terrain have been thoroughly reviewed, and it was suggested that periodic evaluations such as inspections after design and operation would be beneficial." The NSSC stated, "Before use, inspections will be conducted on the construction and performance testing of reactor facilities following construction approval to thoroughly verify the safety of the nuclear power plant."
With the construction approval of Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4, KHNP will begin full-scale construction starting with foundation excavation of the main building on the 13th. KHNP stated, "Before starting construction, on the 13th, a safety pledge rally will be held at the Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 construction site with executives and employees of related companies, pledging to build a premium nuclear power plant and create a safe workplace."
KHNP completed construction preparation plans by signing the main equipment contract in March last year. A KHNP official said, "Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4, symbolizing the revival of the domestic nuclear power ecosystem, is greatly contributing to the normalization of the nuclear power ecosystem through contracts for main equipment construction and auxiliary equipment orders," and added, "With the start of full-scale construction, it is expected to play a supporting role in the Uljin regional economy."
Choi Il-kyung, head of KHNP's Construction Business Headquarters, said, "As Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4, known as a symbol of restoring the nuclear power ecosystem, have received construction approval this time, we will build them as nuclear power plants with the highest safety standards with a strong sense of responsibility."
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