Ministry of Industry: "Respecting Local Opinion 'Support' for Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant MACSTOR Expansion"

"Final Decision Planned After Comprehensive Collection of Various Stakeholders' Opinions"

The temporary storage facility (MACSTOR) for spent nuclear fuel at Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant. (Photo by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the afternoon of the 24th that it respects the intent of the opinion-gathering results from the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant area by the Spent Nuclear Fuel Management Policy Review Committee (Review Committee).

The ministry stated, "We thank the Review Committee, the regional implementation organization, Gyeongju city officials, and the citizens of Gyeongju who participated in the opinion-gathering process for actively supporting the completion of the regional opinion-gathering process."

It added, "The government respects the intent of the Gyeongju opinion-gathering results," and "At the same time, it plans to comprehensively collect opinions from various stakeholders to make the final policy decision."

The ministry emphasized, "Securing public acceptance for the additional construction of temporary storage facilities is a necessary process to seek the ultimate solution for spent nuclear fuel management," and "It is also an important task to successfully promote the energy transition policy through the government's phased reduction of nuclear power plants over about 60 years."

Earlier that day at 10 a.m., the Review Committee announced the results of the citizen participation group's vote on whether to expand the MACSTOR at Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant at the Gampo-eup Welfare Center in Gampo-eup, Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do.

The Review Committee stated, "According to the third survey results of the citizen participation group regarding the approval or disapproval of additional MACSTOR construction, 81.4% were in favor, 11.0% opposed, and 7.6% were undecided."

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