Countdown to Shinwolseong Unit 2 Nuclear Reactor Operation... Increasing Power Generation

Shinwolseong Units 1 and 2

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Dongwoo Lee] The operation of Shinwolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2, located in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk, is set to resume as early as next month.

According to the nuclear power industry on the 16th, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power's Wolseong Nuclear Power Headquarters will complete the 5th planned preventive maintenance of Shinwolseong Unit 2 by the end of this month. Shinwolseong Unit 2, a 1,000 MW pressurized heavy water reactor, had previously halted power generation last month to undergo planned preventive maintenance.

Planned preventive maintenance refers to activities such as equipment inspection, checks, and repairs carried out according to a pre-established maintenance plan.

The Wolseong Headquarters will finish statutory inspections under the Nuclear Safety Act, overall checks and maintenance of power generation equipment, and equipment improvements by the end of this month. If no abnormalities are found, power generation is expected to resume around the 31st after approval from the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission.

Shinwolseong Unit 2 is expected to contribute to stable power supply during this summer.

According to the Korea Power Exchange's Power Statistics Information System, on the 7th of this month at 5 p.m., the maximum power demand exceeded 92,990 MW, causing the supply reserve rate to fall to the 7% range. This occurred about 20 days earlier compared to the same period last year. Authorities are preparing for stable power supply in case the maximum power demand peaks from the end of this month to early next month due to higher-than-average temperatures and humid weather.

The government plans to additionally operate nuclear power plants in the second half of the year. Maintenance of Hanbit Unit 3 is expected to be completed by mid-next month, and as early as October, Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant Unit 4 in Yeonggwang, Jeonnam, which was halted due to cavity (gap) issues in the containment building walls, is also expected to resume operation.

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