Eight Domestic Nuclear Power Plants Face Shutdown Risk Within 10 Years

Rising Sea Temperatures Shorten Lifespan... Urgent Need for Equipment Upgrades
Jo Incheol: "Comprehensive Measures for All Nuclear Plants Nationwide Are Essential"

Jo Incheol, member of the Democratic Party of Korea.

Due to the rise in sea temperatures caused by the climate crisis, eight domestic nuclear power plants are reportedly at risk of shutdown within the next ten years. Concerns have been raised that this could disrupt stable electricity production by reducing the efficiency of essential cooling systems at nuclear plants. Criticism has also emerged regarding the insufficient countermeasures by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) in response to this crisis.

According to data submitted by Jo Incheol, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (representing Gwangju Seo-gu Gap), on October 28, Shin-Wolsong Units 1 and 2 are expected to reach their design sea water temperature in 2030, Hanbit Units 3 and 4 in 2031, and Hanbit Units 1, 2, 5, and 6 in 2034.

Nuclear power plants use seawater to cool their power generation facilities, but if the seawater temperature exceeds a certain threshold, cooling efficiency drops sharply, making continued operation impossible. In effect, this means a shutdown.

KHNP has also recognized the seriousness of rising sea temperatures and, in July 2022, reported a “Comprehensive Management Plan for Nuclear Power Plant Safety in Response to Rising Sea Temperatures Due to Climate Change and Global Warming” to the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC). However, this report has been criticized as a stopgap measure that merely raises the seawater temperature threshold by reassessing the heat exchanger margin, without any substantial equipment improvements. In fact, KHNP has previously raised such standards six times in a similar manner, fueling further criticism.

The situation is even more concerning. It was only in August of this year that KHNP belatedly reported its “Implementation Status and Supplementary Measures” to the NSSC and formed a Sea Temperature Rise Response Task Force (TF). However, it has been confirmed that this TF has not even been allocated a separate operating budget. Furthermore, improvement work on the heat exchangers-core cooling equipment at Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant, which is expected to reach its design seawater temperature within just 5 to 10 years-is not scheduled to begin until 2027, raising serious doubts about the effectiveness of these measures.

Jo Incheol emphasized, “The rise in seawater temperature due to the climate crisis is an unavoidable reality, and simply raising the standards without improving equipment is only a temporary fix. Fundamental improvements to cooling facilities, such as heat exchangers, are urgently needed to ensure the safe operation of nuclear plants nearing the end of their design life. Comprehensive countermeasures for all nuclear power plants nationwide, including Shin-Wolsong and Hanbit, are desperately needed.”

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