Process to extend reactor’s ’lifespan’ mishandled, report levels
Two South Korean nuclear reactors are on the brink of being suspended for 6 months and one year, respectively, after the process to extend their usage period was mishandled by the Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. and the Ministry of Science and Technology. The allegations stem from the results of an audit conducted by the National Assembly. Following the audit, performed on October 15, lawmakers such as Rep. Lee Seok-hyun of the ruling Uri Party and Rep. Kim Young-seon of the main opposition Grand National Party pointed out that operation of the Gori 1 reactor in Busan will be suspended because Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. belatedly submitted its application to extend its operation. The reactor’s original denoted "lifespan" will expire on June 18, 2007, they said, after which it will incur a mandatory six-month suspension of operations because of the late application. At the end of last year, the government revised a law in order to be able to extend the operation of nuclear reactors beyond their lifespan originally set forth at time of construction. Korea Hydro and Nuclear Co. submitted applications for extensions of the Gori 1 reactor in June this year. Under the current law, if operations of a nuclear reactor are to be extended, a safety inspection must be made 18 months prior to the end of the reactor’s original lifespan. This means the Gori 1 application was filed about six months too late. Rep. Ryu Geun-chan questioned whether Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power wrongly calculated the original lifespan of the Gori 1 reactor, which began commercial operations on April 29, 1978.In addition, Rep. Byeon Jae-il claimed that the Wolseong reactor in North Gyeonsan Province is at risk of being suspended for a year after January 2008 because its nuclear fuel storage capacity is reaching saturation point. The reason for the lack of waste storage is that the devices proposed for the moving of the used nuclear fuel to other storage sites did not meet international standards, Byeon said. Kang Shin-heon, a spokesman for Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co., said the submission for the extended use of Gori 1 was delayed as it had prepared to adjust to new regulations. Regarding the problems surrounding the Wolseong reactor, Kang said that "although it’s a heavy water reactor, the Wolseong reactor is being regulated as a light water reactor," explaining that it therefore falls under different guidelines for waste removal. "We will find a solution after collaborating with the Ministry of Science and Technology," Kang said.
