Transition Team "Extending Lifespan of 8 Nuclear Reactors... Expanding Extension Application Deadline"

Transition Team Announces Improvement Plan for Continued Operation System of Nuclear Power Plants
Expected Effect: Increasing Nuclear Reactors from 10 to 18 Units

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyemin and Jeong Donghoon] The Presidential Transition Committee (PTC) is pushing to extend the application deadline for the continued operation, i.e., lifespan extension, of nuclear power plants (NPPs). The new government aims to increase the number of NPPs eligible to apply for continued operation by eight, thereby reducing unnecessary costs.

On the 20th, the PTC's Science, Technology, and Education Subcommittee held a press conference at the PTC office in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, announcing the "Improvement Plan for the Nuclear Power Plant Continued Operation System" with these details.

Park Seongjung, secretary of the PTC Science and Technology Subcommittee, stated, "We proposed advancing the application period for continued operation of NPPs from the current 2 to 5 years before the design lifespan expiration to 5 to 10 years prior, after discussions with the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC)."

Under the current system, to apply for continued operation, a safety evaluation report must be submitted between 2 and 5 years before the design lifespan expires. The NSSC reviews the application and decides on continued operation approval every 10 years. In South Korea, Kori Unit 1 (2007) and Wolsong Unit 1 (2015) have received continued operation permits.

However, according to the PTC, no NPP has been granted continued operation approval under the current administration due to the nuclear phase-out policy, which led to the early shutdown of Wolsong Unit 1 and delays in applications for Kori Unit 2.

Kori Unit 2 submitted its application on the 4th, one year before its design lifespan expires, missing the legal submission deadline. Considering the time required for NSSC review, the plant will inevitably have to shut down after its design lifespan ends on April 8 next year until the continued operation permit is issued. There are concerns that the continued operation period of 10 years could be shortened.

Additionally, for five NPPs whose lifespans expire by 2026 (Kori Units 3 and 4, Hanbit Units 1 and 2, and Wolsong Unit 2), although legally eligible to apply for continued operation, no documents have been submitted yet. The PTC expects applications to be made close to the deadline in the future.

Therefore, the PTC decided to advance the document submission period for subsequent NPPs so that the NSSC can review and decide on continued operation permits in advance. If the system is improved, the number of NPPs eligible to apply for continued operation during the new government's term will increase by eight from the originally planned 10 to a total of 18. This includes Hanbit Units 3 and 4, whose design lifespans end in 2034 and 2035, respectively, and six units eligible for a second continued operation application.

Secretary Park said, "Expanding the application period will allow for more thorough verification of continued operation safety and enable full explanation of the entire process to the public. From the perspective of the NPP operator Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), the NSSC's earlier decision on continued operation will allow for stable project management through timely facility improvements." He added, "In the United States, extensions of 20 years twice are possible, so this is a policy worth reconsidering."

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