Government Reduces One Nuclear Reactor in 11th Electricity Plan... A Desperate Measure Amid Opposition Pressure

by Kang Heejong

Published 08 Jan.2025 10:49(KST)

The Gori Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 (on the right), where the country's first nuclear power plant decommissioning work has begun, is visible along the coast of Gijang-gun, Busan. The photo shows Units 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Gori from right to left in order. 2024.5.7 Photo by Yonhap News

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has prepared a revised plan for the 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand (Jeon-Gibon), reducing the target for new large nuclear power plant construction from three units to two by 2038, while adding renewable energy sources such as solar power. This adjustment partially reflects opposition parties' demands as the report to the National Assembly on the original plan, targeted by the end of last year, was delayed.

According to government and National Assembly sources on the 8th, Choi Nam-ho, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, presented the revised 11th Jeon-Gibon plan to ruling and opposition members of the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee the day before.

The revision expands solar power generation capacity by an additional 2.4 GW (gigawatts) by 2038 and reflects only two new large nuclear power plants instead of the original three. Accordingly, the expected nuclear power generation in 2038 was adjusted down from 249.7 TWh (terawatt-hours) in the original draft to 248 TWh, a reduction of 1.6 TWh. The share of nuclear power decreased by 0.5 percentage points (p) from 35.6% to 35.1%.

For renewable energy, the generation volume increased by 1.8 TWh (0.1%p) from 204.4 TWh (29.1%) to 206.2 TWh (29.2%). Looking at the intermediate target for 2030, the solar power capacity goal was expanded by 1.9 GW compared to the original plan. The original draft of the 11th Jeon-Gibon set the 2030 solar power capacity target at 53.8 GW, but the revised plan raised it to 55.7 GW.

The Ministry proposed further expanding solar power deployment through multi-ministerial policies such as increasing floating solar and parking lot solar installations, improving solar spacing regulations, and dispersing data center demand. However, regarding offshore wind power, it noted that since construction takes more than eight years, there are limitations to additional new entries by 2030.

To achieve the 55.7 GW solar power installation target by 2030, an average annual deployment of more than 4.8 GW of solar power is required over the next six years. As of the end of last year, the installed solar power capacity was 27.1 GW. According to the revised plan, the share of renewable energy in the 2030 power mix will increase by 0.1 percentage points from 18.7% to 18.8%.

The Ministry emphasized that the nuclear power plan was not 'reduced' but that the construction plan for one 1.6 GW nuclear unit was 'deferred.' A ministry official stated, "The remaining nuclear unit can be discussed in the 12th Jeon-Gibon plan."

The government prepared this revision to set the schedule for reporting the 11th Jeon-Gibon plan to the National Assembly's standing committee.

The Jeon-Gibon is a 15-year national energy supply plan established by the government every two years. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced the draft plan in May last year and held a public hearing in September. The plan is finalized after reporting to the National Assembly's standing committee and review by the Electricity Policy Deliberation Committee. However, opposition lawmakers, including those from the Democratic Party, have delayed the reporting schedule, demanding an increase in the share of renewable energy and a reduction in nuclear power in the 11th Jeon-Gibon.

With the Jeon-Gibon not finalized, investment plans in the energy and power sectors are also being postponed one after another. This is because the Jeon-Gibon forms the basic framework for government energy policies such as power grid expansion and gas supply plans.

It remains uncertain whether the 11th Jeon-Gibon will be finalized according to the revised plan. It is also unclear how the ruling People Power Party will accept the revision. Despite the revision, the Industry, Trade and Energy Committee has yet to set a reporting schedule. Professor Jeong Dong-wook of Chung-Ang University's Department of Energy Systems Engineering, who chaired the drafting committee for the 11th Jeon-Gibon, expressed regret over the continued delays in the National Assembly reporting schedule.