Construction permit granted for new Korean APR1400 units

Thursday, 12 September 2024

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) said it confirmed the safety of Shin Hanul units 3 and 4 "based on its experience in safety assessments of previous units, and at the same time, focused on examining differences in design from previous nuclear power plants due to application of the latest technology standards".

In November 2014, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) signed an agreement with Ulchin County to build Shin Hanul 3 and 4. The company applied for a construction licence for the units in January 2016. Site preparation for the two units was originally scheduled to begin in May 2017, with commercial operation of unit 3 scheduled for December 2022, with unit 4 following a year later. However, KHNP announced in May 2017 that it had instructed Kepco Engineering & Construction - which signed a design contract in March 2016 - to suspend work for the planned units as a result of the then new President Moon Jae-in's policy of phasing out nuclear power. Work towards licensing the new units was to continue.

"Considering that the project had been suspended for approximately five years, the NSSC changed the date of application of technical standards in the permit documents to the latest standard and confirmed safety," the regulator said.

KHNP said that it will now begin "full-scale construction" of the units on 13 September "with the excavation of the main building foundation". It said that prior to the start of construction, KHNP will hold a safety pledge ceremony with executives and employees of related companies at the Shin Hanul 3 and 4 construction site and "pledge to work towards building a premium nuclear power plant and creating a safe workplace".

Choi Il-kyung, head of KHNP's construction division, said: "Shin Hanul units 3 and 4, which are called symbols of restoration of the nuclear power plant ecosystem, have recently received construction permits, so we will build them with a sense of responsibility and with the utmost safety."

President Yoon Suk-yeol - who assumed power in May 2022 - has reversed former President Moon Jae-in's policy of phasing out nuclear power. In July 2022, Yoon encouraged a speedy restoration of the country's "nuclear power plant ecosystem" after Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee Chang-yang set out plans for revitalising South Korea's nuclear power industry, including the aim for work on Shin Hanul 3 and 4 to resume as early as 2024.

In March last year, KHNP and Doosan Enerbility signed a KRW2.9 trillion (USD2.2 billion) contract for the supply of the main equipment for Shin Hanul 3 and 4. Under the contract - which will run for 10 years - Doosan Enerbility will supply the nuclear reactors, steam generators and turbine generators for the two APR1400 units.

Preparatory groundwork began for the construction of the two APR1400s following the approval by the South Korean government of the project's implementation plan in June 2023. The approval of the plan effectively approved 20 licensing and permitting procedures under the jurisdiction of 11 ministries required for the construction of nuclear power plants.

Shin Hanul unit 3 is scheduled to be completed by 2032, and unit 4 by 2033.

South Korea has four operational APR1400 units - Saeul units 1 and 2 (formerly Shin Kori 3 and 4) and Shin Hanul units 1 and 2. Two further APR1400s are under construction as Saeul units 3 and 4. Four APR1400 units have also been built at the Barakah nuclear power plant in the UAE, which are all now in commercial operation.