Government to Begin Construction of 'Wonjeon Decommissioning Research Institute' in Second Half of Next Year..."Supporting Entry into Global Market"

Archive photo (2001, dome dismantling work at Saxton Nuclear Experimental Corporation Plant in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, USA. Source = Saxton Nuclear Experimental Corporation Plant)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The government will begin construction of a nuclear power plant dismantling research institute worth 300 billion KRW in the second half of next year.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy reported at the Cabinet meeting held on the 21st that "the nuclear power plant dismantling research institute is planned to be constructed in the second half of 2021."

The government announced a plan to establish a nuclear power plant dismantling research institute in the southeastern region as infrastructure for fostering the nuclear dismantling industry and demonstrating dismantling technology, marking the permanent shutdown ceremony of Kori Unit 1 in June 2017.

Since then, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has conducted studies on the establishment plan for the nuclear dismantling research institute, proceeding with site selection and discussions on funding allocation.

According to the "Plan to Promote the Establishment of the Nuclear Power Plant Dismantling Research Institute" reported that day, the main institute, which will research the dismantling of pressurized water reactors, is scheduled to be built on approximately 73,000㎡ in the border area between Busan and Ulsan. The branch institute, which will research the dismantling of heavy water reactors, will be constructed on about 24,000㎡ in the Na-a Industrial Complex in Gyeongju City.

A total project cost of 322.3 billion KRW is planned for the construction of the research institute. A corporation will be established through contributions from public institutions such as Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (193.4 billion KRW), and the government and local governments (128.9 billion KRW) will support equipment establishment through R&D projects after the establishment.

The global nuclear power plant dismantling market is estimated to be worth 549 trillion KRW. Among approximately 450 nuclear power plants operating worldwide, 305 plants (about 68%) have been in operation for more than 30 years, and the global nuclear dismantling market is expected to expand significantly from mid-this year onward.

Only three countries?the United States, Germany, and Japan?have experience in nuclear power plant dismantling, and among a total of 173 permanently shut down nuclear power plants, only 21 have completed dismantling.

An official from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy expressed hope that "the establishment of the nuclear power plant dismantling research institute will secure national competitiveness in the nuclear dismantling industry and support Korean companies' entry into the global dismantling market."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.