Mandatory Resident Voting for Spent Nuclear Fuel Site Selection... Temporary Storage Allowed Within Nuclear Power Plants

Establishment of the "2nd Basic Plan for High-Level Radioactive Waste Management"
2.7 Trillion KRW Investment over 5 Years in Core Technologies Including Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning and SMR

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] The government will strengthen the opinion-gathering process by requiring a local referendum when establishing facilities to store and manage spent nuclear fuel (high-level radioactive waste) generated after nuclear power plant operation. It also codified a plan to allow temporary storage within the nuclear power plant site through resident consultations until a spent nuclear fuel storage and disposal facility is established.

On the 27th, at the 10th Nuclear Promotion Committee held at the Government Seoul Office, chaired by Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, the government finalized the '6th Comprehensive Nuclear Promotion Plan (2022-2026)' and established the '2nd Basic Plan for High-Level Radioactive Waste Management.'

First, according to the 2nd Basic Plan for High-Level Radioactive Waste Management established under the Waste Management Act, the site and facilities will be secured through a social consensus process. Basic local governments can collect opinions from local residents and local councils and, if necessary, apply for a site suitability survey. Even if the survey results confirm feasibility, a local referendum must be held before the final site is decided. The government plans to secure an interim storage facility within 20 years and a permanent disposal facility within 37 years after starting the site selection process.

Before establishing the interim storage facility, it is possible to install a spent nuclear fuel storage facility within the nuclear power plant site by gathering opinions from residents in the surrounding area. Once the interim storage facility is operational, stored spent nuclear fuel will be immediately removed, and the transfer of spent nuclear fuel between nuclear power plant regions will be restricted.

To enhance resident acceptance of spent nuclear fuel facilities, a 'Host Region Support Committee' chaired by the Prime Minister will be newly established to support host regions and strengthen the safety management foundation. The government will enact a special law on spent nuclear fuel and also promote the establishment of an independent dedicated organization.

Additionally, based on the recommendations of the 'Spent Nuclear Fuel Processing Technology Research and Development Adequacy Review Committee,' the government prepared the 'Current Status and Future Directions of Spent Nuclear Fuel Processing Technology Research and Development.' Following the committee's recommendation to continue research and development of pyro-sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFR), the government plans to support R&D to secure basic and fundamental technologies up to the demonstration commercialization stage (TRL 6).

The government is also aiming to lead the future market by securing core technologies such as nuclear power plant decommissioning and small modular reactors (SMR) amid intensified competition among countries for innovative technologies, and by expanding nuclear power plant exports to create future markets. According to the finalized 6th Comprehensive Nuclear Promotion Plan, it includes 12 policy tasks centered on four major goals: ▲Safety and Environment (seeking solutions for safety and radioactive waste issues) ▲Future Market and Exports (securing core technologies such as nuclear power plant exports, decommissioning, and SMR) ▲Convergence and Innovation (creating high value-added new industries through development of radiation convergence and complex new technologies) ▲Communication and Cooperation (enhancing nuclear acceptance through strengthened policy communication). The government plans to invest 2.7 trillion KRW over the next five years to implement this comprehensive plan.

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