Nuclear Research Institute Announces This Year's Management Plan: "Providing Full-Cycle Technologies Including Safety and Decommissioning"

3rd Year of Establishing the 2019 Seun Mid- to Long-Term Nuclear Research Strategy Marking the 60th Anniversary
Focus on Future Technology Development, Expanded Communication, and Enhanced Utilization of Large Facilities

Park Won-seok, Director of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. (Photo by Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) announced that it will develop nuclear technology covering the entire lifecycle this year, including safety research for operating nuclear power plants, dismantling and restoration of aging facilities.

On the 4th, KAERI announced its nuclear technology development management plan for this year. In 2019, marking its 60th anniversary, it established a mid- to long-term nuclear research strategy, and this year is the third year of that plan.

This year, KAERI set core management goals to pursue: 'Pioneering Challenging Nuclear Technology Areas for the Future,' 'Improving Institutional Structure and Expanding Communication,' and 'Building Advanced Research Infrastructure and Enhancing Utilization of Large Research Facilities.'

Starting with the resumption of radioactive waste transportation last year, KAERI plans to establish a radioactive waste safety management and radiation environmental protection system. It will also promote innovative nuclear technology development.

The key management goal this year is 'Pioneering Challenging Nuclear Technology Areas for the Future.'

This includes providing full-cycle nuclear technology such as safety research for operating nuclear power plants and dismantling and restoration of aging nuclear facilities, developing future nuclear systems that respond to flexible energy markets, and developing leading convergence technologies.

To this end, performance tests for the Shin-Kori Unit 6 Reactor Coolant Pump (RCP) will be conducted. Development of precise nuclear power plant safety analysis codes and safety evaluation technologies for complex disasters such as the Fukushima nuclear accident are expected to be completed.

According to the 'Plan to Secure Core Decommissioning Technologies' established by the government in 2012, domestic self-reliance and practical application of core decommissioning technologies will be completed within this year.

Research on convergence with other technologies will continue. KAERI plans to focus on challenging technology development such as autonomous nuclear power plant operation technology combining sensors, remote communication, and artificial intelligence (AI), small modular reactors, and next-generation high-efficiency power generation systems.

In addition, efforts will be made to further research and technology transfer so that convergence research outcomes such as smart sensing, advanced 3D printing, lasers, AI, and robotics can be utilized beyond the nuclear field into various industrial sectors.

Public communication on nuclear energy will be expanded. The 'Nuclear Facility Citizen Safety Communication Center' established last year will be expanded and reorganized into the 'Daejeon Nuclear Safety Citizen Participation Committee' and begin its activities.

Last month, after three years since 2018, 240 drums of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste were transported to Gyeongju. KAERI plans to safely transport radioactive waste and increase local residents' acceptance by establishing a radioactive waste lifecycle management system (RAWINGS) and radioactive waste nuclide analysis infrastructure.

Efforts will be made to ensure stable operation and enhance utilization of national large-scale research facilities.

Thorough preparations will be made to ensure the research reactor HANARO operates normally, and efforts will be made to conduct necessary safety inspections and secure funding for sustainable operation.

The 100MeV-class Gyeongju proton accelerator, which has entered a stabilization phase with an operation rate of 96.2%, will apply for a preliminary feasibility study to expand the accelerator to 200MeV.

The Advanced Radiation Research Institute in Jeongeup, which has become the mecca of domestic radiation research, plans to stabilize the output of its electron accelerator.

The Innovative Nuclear Research Complex being prepared in Gyeongju is awaiting the results of the preliminary feasibility study, aiming to start construction in July.

Through the 'Mid- to Long-Term Development Plan Task Force (TF),' KAERI plans to concretely establish the roles and functions of each base, including the Gyeongju Innovative Nuclear Research Complex, together with internal members.

Furthermore, KAERI will make greater efforts to systematize the research and development (R&D) promotion foundation and support researchers to secure world-class technological capabilities.

Park Won-seok, President of KAERI, said, "We will establish a sustainable nuclear research and development system that local residents and the public can trust, and lay the foundation for nuclear technology development toward the next 60 years, dreaming of nuclear technology for a better world."

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