NSSC Files Complaint Against KHNP...Violation of Safety Evaluation Deadline for Gori Unit 2

165th Wonaenwi Meeting... Deliberation and Resolution on 'Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Prosecution'

Panoramic view of Gori Nuclear Power Plant located in Gijang-gun, Busan.
[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Lee Jun-hyung] The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) has decided to file charges against Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP). This is due to KHNP violating the deadline for the Periodic Safety Review (PSR) required for the continued operation of Kori Unit 2.

The NSSC announced on the 27th, during its 165th meeting, that it deliberated and resolved this matter. According to the Nuclear Safety Act, nuclear power plant operators must submit the PSR report to the NSSC at least two years before the expiration of the plant’s design life if they intend to continue operation. Kori Unit 2 has been in operation since 1983, and its design life (40 years) will expire on April 8 next year. This means KHNP should have submitted the PSR report by early April last year to continue operating Kori Unit 2.

However, KHNP submitted the PSR report to the NSSC only on April 4 of this year, nearly one year past the legally mandated deadline. Consequently, the NSSC has decided to file charges not only against KHNP but also against the personnel responsible for the related tasks for violating the Nuclear Safety Act. Under current law, failure to submit the PSR report within the deadline can result in a fine of up to 3 million KRW.

There are also expectations that Kori Unit 2 may temporarily cease operation starting April next year when its design life ends. This is because the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) plans to complete its review of the Kori Unit 2 PSR report by the end of next year. According to the PSR review schedule submitted by KINS to the NSSC, the first round of inquiries on the report will begin in December. KINS will conduct the second round of inquiries in May next year and the third round in September of the same year. Following this, the final review of the response documents will be completed in November next year, and the NSSC will proceed with the deliberation and resolution process around April 2024. KHNP cannot extend the design life of Kori Unit 2 until it receives final approval from the NSSC after the KINS review.

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