Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, construction plan approval stopped at nuclear phase-out
Construction of Shin Hanul Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4 in Uljin-gun, Gyeongbuk Province, has been approved after eight years of application. Construction of Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 was halted in October 2017 due to the previous government’s ‘nuclear phase-out’ policy.
The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission announced on the 12th that it had approved the construction plan for Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 at its 200th meeting. This construction permit was granted 8 years and 8 months after Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power applied for a construction permit in January 2016. With this, Korea has built a new nuclear power plant for the first time in 8 years and 3 months since the construction permit for Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 (formerly Shin Kori Units 5 and 6) was granted in June 2016.
Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 are pressurized water reactors (APR1400) with an electric output of 1,400 MW (megawatts) each, and have the same design as the currently operating Saeul Units 1 and 2 and Shin Hanul Units 1 and 2. A construction permit was applied for in January 2016, but the project was halted in October 2017, about a year later, when the Moon Jae-in government passed the ‘Energy Transition Roadmap’ through a Cabinet meeting, and the construction permit review was also suspended. After the Yoon Seok-yeol government declared the resumption of the construction project in July 2022, the review began again.
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With the construction permit issued eight years after application, Shin Hanul Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4 are being evaluated as a signal flare for the ‘restoration of the domestic nuclear power ecosystem. ’ The construction of Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4, which will cost a total of 11.7 trillion won, is expected to provide continuous work for the next 10 years or more, relieving the domestic nuclear power industry, which was on the verge of collapse. The government’s plan to build up to three more nuclear power plants by 2038 is also expected to gain speed, raising expectations in the domestic nuclear power industry.
● “A symbol of nuclear power plant ecosystem restoration… Groundwork already underway”
Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 were nuclear power plants that had already finalized their construction plans in 2016 and completed site selection and environmental impact assessments. However, construction was halted just four months after it began in October 2017 due to the Moon Jae-in administration’s “nuclear phase-out” policy. The current administration has changed its policy to resume construction of nuclear power plants, and the environmental impact assessment has been conducted again and construction permit procedures have been re-underway.
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power has decided to immediately begin full-scale construction along with the excavation of the main building foundation. On the 13th, Hanwha Solutions will resume construction at the construction site of Shin Hanul Units 3 & 4, while pledging to build a premium nuclear power plant and create a safe workplace together with executives and employees of related companies. Choi Il-kyung, head of the Construction Business Division of Hanwha Solutions, said, “Shin Hanul Units 3 & 4, which are called symbols of the restoration of the nuclear power plant ecosystem, will build a nuclear power plant with the highest level of safety with a sense of responsibility as they have recently received construction permits.”
Shinhanul Unit 3 is scheduled to be completed in 2032, and Unit 4 in 2033. A KHNP official explained, “Prior to official construction, the ground preparation work that can be carried out based solely on the government’s implementation plan is already underway,” and “As of the 5th of this month, approximately 81% of the site for Shinhanul Units 3 and 4 has been purchased, so construction will be possible quickly.” The contracts for the major facilities of Shinhanul Units 3 and 4 have already been completed. KEPCO Engineering & Construction will be in charge of the comprehensive design, and Doosan Energy will be in charge of supplying the main equipment. Construction will be carried out by Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Doosan Energy, and POSCO E&C.
● A ‘rain shower’ for the nuclear power industry as well
During the construction process, a large amount of work is naturally supplied to the domestic nuclear power ecosystem. During the construction process of the main equipment worth approximately 2.9 trillion won, Doosan Energy will sign contracts with partner companies, and contracts for auxiliary equipment such as pumps, pipes, and cables worth approximately 2 trillion won will be sequentially ordered until the completion date.
Sung Tae-yoon, the director of the presidential office for policy, said on the same day, “It is significant in that it has restored the nuclear power ecosystem that was on the verge of collapse and has provided an opportunity for the nuclear power industry to make a leap forward,” adding, “It will enhance the external credibility of our country’s nuclear power industry and contribute to nuclear power plant exports, including future nuclear power plant orders from the Czech Republic.”
On the 5th, Uljin-gun, Gyeongbuk held an explanation session on the participation of local companies in the construction of Shin-Hanul Units 3 and 4 at the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant Headquarters of Hanul Nuclear Power. A Hanul official said, “With the start of full-scale construction, we expect it to be a support for the local economy of Uljin.”
Domestic nuclear power companies are brimming with anticipation. A representative of a small and medium-sized enterprise in charge of producing and supplying auxiliary equipment for nuclear power plants said, “Due to the nuclear phase-out policy, new orders related to nuclear power plants have been at a standstill for the past few years.” He added, “We have barely been able to keep the company afloat while carrying out maintenance and repair work on equipment ordered in the past. If we can secure new work with the construction of Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4, it will be a great help in increasing sales.”
As construction of new nuclear power plants is on track for the first time in 8 years and 3 months since the construction permit for Saeul Units 3 and 4 (formerly Shin-Kori Units 5 and 6) was issued in June 2016, the government’s plan to build additional new nuclear power plants is expected to gain momentum. The 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand released in May includes plans to build up to three new nuclear power plants by 2038 and to begin using small modular reactors (SMRs), a representative next-generation nuclear power plant, in full-scale power generation starting in 2035. It has been nine years since the Electricity Basic Plan included a plan to build new nuclear power plants in 2015.
Jeong Dong-wook, a professor of energy systems engineering at Chung-Ang University, said, “With Saeul Units 3 and 4 nearing completion, the domestic nuclear power industry was at risk of losing work, but the construction of Shin-Hanul Units 3 and 4 will serve as a stepping stone that will allow the industry to maintain its infrastructure, facilities, and personnel.” He added, “Not only has this given the green light to implement the 11th Basic Electricity Working Group Plan, it will also increase the credibility of our nuclear power industry from an international perspective.”
2024-09-13 01:53:42