Page 7 - AsiaElec Week 28 2021

AsiaElec NUCLEAR AsiaElec

South Korea issues permit

for Shin Hanul 1 reactor

SOUTH KOREA SOUTH Korea’s nuclear safety regulator has related to the application were discussed during
given its conditional approval for the start-up a total of 18 meetings. On-site inspections were
of unit 1 at Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power’s carried out by the NSSC in late February this
(KHNP) Shin Hanul nuclear power plant (NPP). year.
The Nuclear Safety and Security Committee “In the future, the NSSC plans to thoroughly
(NSSC) set a number of requirements for addi- check the safety of nuclear fuel loading and test
tional safety measures at the unit, the first of two operation, which will be carried out following
APR-1400 reactors at the site. the Shin Hanul unit 1 operation permit, through
Ground breaking for the first two units at the pre-use inspections,” the regulator said.
Shin Hanul site took place in May 2012. The APR-1400 is an evolutionary pressurised
First concrete for unit 1 was poured two water reactor with its origins in the CE System
months later, with that for unit 2 following in 80+ model. Principally designed by Korea Engi-
June 2013. neering Co., it produces 1,400 MWe and has a
The 1,350-MW pressurised water reactors 60-year design life. It supersedes the standard-
(PWRs) were originally scheduled to enter ser- ised 995 MWe OPR-1000 design, of which South
vice in April 2017 and April 2018. Korea built 12.
Fuel loading in unit 1 had been scheduled for The APR-1400 features improvements in
June 2019 but was delayed pending safety checks operation, safety, maintenance and affordabil-
by the NSSC and some modifications. Commer- ity based on accumulated experience as well as
cial operation of unit 1 was then anticipated in technological development. Design certification
July 2021, and unit 2 in May 2022, but there have by KINS was awarded in May 2003. In October
been further delays. 2017, European Utility Requirements – a tech-
KHNP applied for an operating licence for nical advisory group for European utilities on
Shin Hanul 1 in December 2014. NPPs – approved the APR1400 reactor design.
In considering the application, the NSSC The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission certi-
went through a review by the Korea Institute of fied the APR-1400 in August 2019, finding the
Nuclear Safety (KINS). A pre-use inspection of design had fully met US safety requirements.
the unit was made in May 2020. A preliminary Four APR-1400s have also been built at Bar-
review by a specialised committee was carried akah in the United Arab Emirates. The first of
out between June and October last year. The these units started commercial operation in
NSSC said it started assessing the application at April and unit 2 has completed fuel loading and
an official meeting in November. Major issues is being prepared for start-up.™

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