Groundbreaking of the ‘Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning Research Institute,’ a Safety Decommissioning Hub for Permanently Shut Down Kori Unit 1 ... Full Completion in 2026

Location map of the Nuclear Decommissioning Research Institute.

Aerial view of the Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning Research Institute.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] The 'Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning Research Institute,' tasked with the safe dismantling of halted nuclear power plants, will break ground on the 31st.

Busan City announced on the 31st that the groundbreaking ceremony for the Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning Research Institute, a key facility for nuclear power plant decommissioning, will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the construction site of the institute.

The Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning Research Institute will be built on a 138,000㎡ site spanning Hyoam-ri, Jangan-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan, and Myeongsan-ri, Seosaeng-myeon, Ulju-gun, with office buildings covering 4,878㎡, research buildings 4,141㎡, full-scale model testing buildings 4,044㎡, and demonstration analysis buildings 9,449㎡.

This facility will develop technologies for the safe dismantling of permanently shut down nuclear power plants and serve as a testbed for the commercialization of these technologies, as well as a center for workforce training.

Upon completion, the institute will lead the independence of nuclear power plant decommissioning technology by utilizing integrated demonstration infrastructure and equipment, foster related industries, and support numerous local small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-sized companies wishing to participate in the decommissioning market with technology commercialization and technical cooperation. Furthermore, it is expected to enhance mutual cooperation among industry, academia, and research institutes, resulting in synergistic effects in technology development.

Starting with groundbreaking, the Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning Research Institute plans to complete the office, research, and full-scale model testing buildings by September 2024, the demonstration analysis building by July 2025, and finish equipment installation and licensing by the first half of 2026 to complete the entire facility.

Kim Gap-yong, Director of the Nuclear Safety Division of Busan City, said, “We expect this to become a hub for fostering the dismantling industry, leading the independence of nuclear power plant decommissioning technology in Korea,” adding, “Busan City will continue to actively support and cooperate while exploring development plans to ensure the advancement of the nuclear power plant decommissioning industry that guarantees citizen safety.”

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