The Transition Committee Formalizes Increase in Nuclear Power Plant Operation Rate... Orders Rebirth of Nuclear Safety and Security Commission

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The Presidential Transition Committee officially announced on the 25th the plan to increase the domestic nuclear power plant operation rate, which is currently at the 70% level.

The Science, Technology, and Education Subcommittee of the Transition Committee received a briefing from the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission at the Transition Committee office in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu on the same day.

Won Il-hee, the chief deputy spokesperson of the Transition Committee, stated after the briefing, "There was a consensus among the transition committee members that the nuclear power plant operation rate should be increased," adding, "However, specific target figures for the increase were not discussed."

The nuclear power industry expects that under the new government, the operation rate of nuclear power plants will be raised to over 80%.

Through a press release, the Transition Committee pointed out that "the NSSC's politically and ideologically biased decision-making has led to a decline in power plant utilization rates," and criticized that "due to a lack of expertise, important permits have been delayed, causing greater public anxiety."

This criticism from the Transition Committee is interpreted as targeting the NSSC's conditional approval last year for the operation of Shin Hanul Unit 1 after prolonged discussions.

Earlier, the Economic Subcommittee 2 of the Transition Committee also urged the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy during its briefing the previous day to accelerate the resumption of construction for Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4, and the ministry announced that it would "reestablish nuclear power policy."

The Transition Committee also ordered the NSSC to be reborn in line with the new government's policy direction.

The Transition Committee explained, "For the new government's nuclear power pledge to be successfully implemented with public support, nuclear safety must be firmly ensured," and added, "We discussed ways to thoroughly verify safety while efficiently handling the resumption of construction for Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4, continued operation, and the development of innovative Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)."

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