hankyoreh

By Nam Jong-young

A policy research institute has issued a report recommending the end of both current lifetime extensions for existing nuclear power plants and plans to build new plants, in order to promote sustainable development for future generations.
“It is desirable for future generations that we only use nuclear plants currently in operation until the end of their original limits of use and that we do not build any more new plants,” said Gang Gwang-gyu, head of the Korea Environment Institute’s Environmental Appraisal Center. “Instead of reconsidering policies to supply more energy using nuclear plants, we should change to an energy policy that makes managing demand, including the promotion of energy saving, a priority.”
The report is expected to cause controversy because it comes in contrast to the Lee Myung-bak administration’s policy of planning to build more nuclear plants despite the accident that occurred at Fukushima in Japan in March this year.
Before the report came out, unease had been growing regarding the safety of nuclear plants and the balancing of supply of and demand for electricity this winter, due to a series of problems where nuclear plants broke down. At around 8:36 a.m. on Dec. 14, the 950,000kW No.3 reactor at Gori Nuclear Power Site in Busan came to a standstill and stopped generating electricity. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. Lt. stated, “Excessive voltage in the turbine generator caused a protective relay to come into operation, ceasing electricity generation. We are investigating the exact cause of the accident.”
This incident took place just over 12 hours after the 1,000,000kW No. 1 reactor at a nuclear plant in Uljin was stopped at around 8 p.m. the previous day. This brings the number of reactors stopped for maintenance or because of breaking down to five out South Korea’s total of 21.

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