Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility Saturation Point Shortened by 1-2 Years... "Special Act for Radioactive Waste Disposal Site Needed"

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Dongwoo Lee] As the share of nuclear power generation expands, the saturation point of spent nuclear fuel storage facilities is expected to be brought forward by 1 to 2 years. There is an urgent opinion that measures to build spent nuclear fuel storage facilities are needed for the safe use of nuclear power plants.

According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on the 10th, the saturation point of the spent nuclear fuel storage facility at Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant in Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do, which was expected in 2031, has been brought forward to 2030. This is because the 10th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand (Electricity Plan), which chose active use of nuclear power instead of nuclear phase-out, was reflected, advancing the expected saturation point.

According to the 10th Electricity Plan, the saturation point of storage facilities was recalculated by reflecting the continued operation of facilities whose operating licenses expire during the planning period, the completion of Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 (in 2032 and 2033 respectively), and the operation of a total of 32 nuclear power plants (including 2 permanently shut down plants). In addition to Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant, the saturation point of spent nuclear fuel storage facilities at Hanul Nuclear Power Plant in Uljin-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, was brought forward from 2032 to 2031, and at Shin Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant in Gyeongju-si, Gyeongbuk, from the original 2044 to 2042.

On the other hand, in the case of Kori Nuclear Power Plant in Gijang-gun, Busan Metropolitan City, the saturation point of spent nuclear fuel storage facilities was delayed from the existing 2031 to 2032. The 9th Electricity Plan did not consider the installation of a dense storage rack (a device that reduces the spacing between nuclear fuels to increase overall storage capacity) for Kori Unit 2, but the 10th Electricity Plan assumed the installation of the dense storage rack as the continued operation of the plant was reflected.

In seven years, facilities that store spent nuclear fuel discharged after being used as fuel in reactors will begin to reach saturation, making it difficult to operate nuclear power plants. Accordingly, the government and industry are in urgent need of related countermeasures. Although the site for the low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste disposal facility was selected as Gyeongju in 2005, the selection of a site for the high-level radioactive waste disposal facility has been stalled since 2009.

Currently, three special bills related to the management system, site selection procedures, and storage facilities within nuclear power plants for high-level radioactive waste have been proposed in the National Assembly, but they have only just completed public hearings.

Lee Seung-ryeol, Director of the Nuclear Industry Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, said, "The issue of managing high-level radioactive waste has remained a long-term challenge, but after more than ten years of public discussion, three special bills are being discussed in the National Assembly. Now, the urgent passage of these bills is crucial," adding, "Due to the saturation of storage facilities, the construction of dry storage facilities within nuclear power plants is inevitable for the time being."

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