Welding and cables meet Korean approval

South Korean nuclear regulators have cleared one of the country's nuclear reactors to restart after approving welding work. The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission has also approved cables for installation in three other idled reactors.

South Korean nuclear regulators have cleared one of the country's nuclear reactors to restart after approving welding work. The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) has also approved cables for installation in three other idled reactors.

Hanbit (Image: KHNP)

The regulator issued a statement to say that it was satisfied with the standard of welding work on a steam generator at Hanbit 2, formerly known as Yonngwang 2, clearing the 958 MWe pressurised water reactor to restart. The unit was taken off line on 30 October.

In a separate statement, the NSSC also gave its approval for the new control cables proposed for installation at Shin Wolsong units 1 and 2. Earlier this year it was discovered that safety documentation for cabling installed at four of Korea's nuclear reactors had been falsified. As a result, operator Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) was ordered to take all four units off line pending the replacement of the safety-critical cables. At the time, two of the affected units (Shin Kori 2 and Shin Wolsong 1) were in operation, while one (Shin Kori 1) was already off line scheduled maintenance. The fourth affected unit, the newly-constructed Shin Wolsong 2, was awaiting approval to start commercial operation and was therefore prevented from starting up.

In its statement, the NSSC said that testing had shown the replacement cables to be satisfactory but that further testing would be carried out before the recabled reactors can receive permission to restart.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News