Establishment of Nuclear Decommissioning Research Institute Delayed to 2026... Setback in Government's New Growth Industry Plan

Preliminary Feasibility Study Approval Required for Construction to Begin in the Second Half of Next Year

Gori Unit 1, which is about to be decommissioned. (File photo)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The establishment of the Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning Research Institute (Wonhaeyeon), which is set to play a key role as a hub for fostering the nuclear decommissioning market and supporting small and medium enterprises, has been delayed by two years from the original plan. The government had previously promoted the nuclear decommissioning market as a new growth industry while pursuing its nuclear phase-out policy, but this plan is now inevitably facing setbacks.

A Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) official said on the 19th, "Wonhaeyeon can only begin construction in the second half of 2022 at the earliest," adding, "This is largely due to the 'Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning Core Technology Development Project' failing to pass the preliminary feasibility study." He further stated, "If construction starts in the second half of next year, completion is expected around 2026."

Wonhaeyeon is considered central to the nuclear decommissioning industry. It is responsible not only for demonstrating decommissioning technologies but also for training on-site personnel. Additionally, it will conduct tests on decommissioning processes such as reactor cutting and decontamination. Because of this, the government has shown strong interest in Wonhaeyeon. Shortly after the current administration took office, in June 2017, President Moon Jae-in declared at the 'Permanent Shutdown Ceremony of Kori Unit 1' that "the permanent shutdown of Kori Unit 1 marks the start of a nuclear-free nation," and pledged to "establish related research institutes in the southeastern region to secure nuclear decommissioning technology and provide active support." Subsequently, in April 2019, the government included the establishment of Wonhaeyeon as a major task in the 'Nuclear Decommissioning Industry Promotion Strategy' jointly formulated and announced by related ministries.

KHNP initially aimed to begin construction in the second half of this year and complete it by 2024. However, failing the preliminary feasibility study made it impossible to meet this schedule. Although the specific reasons for rejection were not disclosed, it is reported that the timing for establishing decommissioning equipment was earlier than the actual decommissioning of nuclear plants such as Kori Unit 1, and there was insufficient demand survey for the related equipment. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Science and ICT plan to supplement these issues and reapply for the preliminary feasibility study next month. Assuming approval next year, construction could begin in the second half of 2022, but if it fails again, the establishment of the research institute could be further delayed.

An industry insider said, "It is necessary to verify the commercialization potential of various technologies developed for nuclear decommissioning through Wonhaeyeon's demonstration," adding, "If the demonstration is delayed, even if the technologies are developed, it will be difficult to confirm their applicability in actual decommissioning work, which in turn hampers the acquisition of nuclear decommissioning technological capabilities."

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