Will the Permit for 'Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4' Be Extended? Decision Soon Through the Energy Committee

Launch of the 6th Energy Committee and the 22nd Energy Committee Meeting on the 22nd
Discussion on the Handling Measures for Shin-Hanul Units 3 and 4 and the Yeongdeok Cheonji Nuclear Power Plant Site

Site view of Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4. (Photo by 자료)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The decision on whether to extend the construction plan approval period for Shin-Hanul Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4 will be made on the 22nd.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that it will launch the 6th Energy Committee and hold the 22nd Energy Committee meeting on the same day to discuss the handling measures for Shin-Hanul Units 3 and 4 and the Cheonji (Yeongdeok) nuclear power plant planned site. The Ministry plans to announce the results of the discussions immediately after the meeting ends.

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) received government approval for the Shin-Hanul Units 3 and 4 power generation project in February 2017 but has not yet obtained construction plan approval. This is because the project was excluded from the 8th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand established at the end of 2017 under the government’s nuclear phase-out policy.

According to the Electricity Business Act, if construction plan approval is not obtained within four years of acquiring the power generation project permit without justifiable reasons, the permit will be canceled. The deadline for this is the 27th of this month. If the Shin-Hanul Units 3 and 4 power generation project permit is canceled, KHNP will not be able to undertake other new power generation projects such as renewable energy for the next two years. Additionally, approximately 779 billion KRW has already been invested in site preparation and pre-fabrication of main equipment for Shin-Hanul Units 3 and 4, raising concerns about potential breach of duty issues.

KHNP requested the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy last month on the 11th to extend the period for obtaining construction plan approval until December 2023. The Ministry has been conducting a legal review regarding the extension and will report the results to this Energy Committee meeting.

During the meeting, KHNP will also report on the progress of consultations with local governments and communities regarding the cancellation of the designation of the planned site for the Cheonji nuclear power plant, which was terminated by a board resolution in June 2018, and the promotion plan.

In addition, the committee is expected to discuss ▲ the main policy directions for the energy sector in 2021 ▲ the establishment plan for an energy carbon neutrality innovation strategy ▲ and the establishment plan for a distributed energy activation roadmap.

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