Overcoming the Setbacks of 'Nuclear Phase-Out,' Conditional Operation Approval Granted for Shin Hanul Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1... Announcement of Operation for the 25th Commercial Reactor

Shin Hanul Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 and 2. [Image source=Gyeongbuk Province]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] The Shin Hanul Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 in Uljin-gun, Gyeongbuk, is expected to begin operation. With the conditional operating license granted on the 9th, it will become the 25th commercial nuclear reactor among the four nuclear power plants in South Korea.

Although the operating license had been delayed due to the Moon Jae-in administration's nuclear phase-out policy and opposition from environmental groups, it is analyzed that practicality was chosen to overcome the huge deficit caused by the neglect of Shin Hanul Unit 1 and to resolve the power shortage.

However, as a condition for the operating license, the safety issues of the Passive Autocatalytic Recombiners (PAR), which had been raised so far, must be resolved first. This means it is a conditional approval.

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission decided on the 9th at its 142nd meeting to grant conditional approval for the operation of Shin Hanul Unit 1 by consensus among the commissioners.

This decision comes about eight months after the start of the operating license review. Although it was first submitted as an agenda item for review and resolution by the commission on the 11th of last month, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission postponed the conclusion due to additional document reviews after receiving a report from Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power that there were changes to be made in the Shin Hanul Unit 1 license review documents.

The 1400-megawatt (MW) Shin Hanul Unit 1 began construction in 2010 with the goal of commercial operation in 2018, but despite being completed in April last year due to the Gyeongju earthquake and other factors, its operation was delayed due to the postponed operating license.

Unlike Shin Kori Unit 4 and Shin Wolseong Unit 2, which received operating licenses after several reports from the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS), Shin Hanul Unit 1's conclusion was postponed 12 times. Each time, public criticism grew.

Delays caused by safety concerns raised by environmental groups and accusations against KHNP have caused damages to snowball.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum stated at the National Assembly's economic sector government questioning session on the 23rd of last month, “I think it is problematic to keep a nearly completed nuclear power plant idle,” expressing his intention to request the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission to grant the operating license.

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