Power Grid Expansion Act, High-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Act, and Offshore Wind Power Act Passed
On the 27th, the Special Act on the Promotion of Offshore Wind Power Distribution and Industry Development was passed at the National Assembly plenary session. Yonhap News
The 'Energy 3 Acts' for fostering advanced strategic industries passed the National Assembly plenary session on the 27th.
On that day, the National Assembly handled the Special Act on the Expansion of the National Power Grid, the Special Act on the Management of High-Level Radioactive Waste, and the Special Act on the Promotion and Industrial Development of Offshore Wind Power at the plenary session held in the afternoon.
The Power Grid Expansion Act includes provisions for the government to directly and indirectly support power grid construction projects. It established the basis for formulating the basic plan for expanding the national power grid and for setting up the National Power Grid Expansion Committee, and also stipulated special measures for expedited administrative procedures to accelerate power grid development.
The High-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Act contains procedures to resolve the issue of spent nuclear fuel (high-level radioactive waste) from the operation of 26 nuclear reactors, which account for more than 30% of the total power supply.
Both ruling and opposition parties agreed that without a disposal site to safely store high-level radioactive waste, nuclear power plant operations or exports could be negatively affected. Regarding the contentious issue of storage facility capacity in this bill, the opposition party’s proposal was reflected, deciding to use the "predicted amount generated during the design lifespan" as the standard.
The Offshore Wind Power Act simplifies the government-led wind power project licensing procedures to expand the spread of wind power generation. In the future, within wind power zones, preliminary feasibility studies may be exempted if deemed necessary for the rapid promotion of offshore wind power generation.
The Power Grid Expansion Act and the High-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Act will be enforced six months after promulgation, and the Offshore Wind Power Act will be enforced one year later.
The Power Grid Expansion Act passed with 191 votes in favor, 5 against, and 19 abstentions out of 215 members present; the High-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Act passed with 190 votes in favor, 8 against, and 27 abstentions out of 225 members present; and the Offshore Wind Power Special Act was approved with 180 votes in favor, 6 against, and 17 abstentions out of 203 members present.
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