{"id":2205286,"date":"2024-05-29T19:31:29","date_gmt":"2024-05-29T10:31:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2205286"},"modified":"2024-05-30T19:06:23","modified_gmt":"2024-05-30T10:06:23","slug":"deadlock-over-radioactive-waste-jeopardizes-future-of-south-korean-nuclear-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/05\/deadlock-over-radioactive-waste-jeopardizes-future-of-south-korean-nuclear-power\/","title":{"rendered":"Deadlock over radioactive waste jeopardizes future of South Korean nuclear power"},"content":{"rendered":"
The National Assembly\u2019s failure to pass a special law on constructing permanent storage facilities for radioactive waste has placed the future of South Korea\u2019s nuclear power sector in jeopardy, with far-reaching implications for the country\u2019s long-term energy security and economic growth.<\/span><\/p>\n The proposed bill, named the <\/span>High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Special Act<\/span><\/a>, aimed to establish a legal framework for the construction and operation of a permanent disposal facility and interim storage facilities for spent fuel from the country\u2019s 26 nuclear power plants.<\/span><\/p>\n The bill also included provisions for site selection, safety assessments and licensing procedures, and its passage was crucial for addressing the growing problem of spent nuclear fuel accumulation in temporary storage facilities, some of which will reach capacity by the end of the decade.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Instead, the problem has now fallen into the lap of the incoming parliament, but partisan disagreements about the future of nuclear energy in the country risk continuing to obstruct action, potentially undermining public trust in nuclear power even as the ROK looks to export nuclear reactors abroad.<\/span><\/p>\n Main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung criticizes President Yoon Suk-yeol\u2019s pro-nuclear energy policy, Dec. 19, 2022 | Image: Democratic Party of Korea<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n POLITICAL GRIDLOCK<\/b><\/p>\n The political gridlock between the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) played a significant role in the bill\u2019s demise, with the two <\/span>at odds<\/span><\/a> over the capacity of on-site storage facilities for spent nuclear fuel.<\/span><\/p>\n The Yoon administration and the PPP have argued for determining nuclear waste storage capacity based on the assumption that the lifespan of nuclear power plants could be extended in the future. In contrast, the DP\u2019s position is that storage capacities should not increase once the initial design life of a nuclear power plant ends.<\/span><\/p>\n Public concerns about the safety and environmental impact of nuclear waste have led to protests and resistance against the construction of new storage facilities. This opposition has been a major factor in the government\u2019s inability to implement long-term solutions for spent fuel management.<\/span><\/p>\n The ruling and opposition parties\u2019 inability to find common ground on this critical issue has set a problematic precedent for upcoming discussions and negotiations related to nuclear waste management.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n South Korea\u2019s <\/span>26 operable nuclear reactors<\/span><\/a> temporarily store their spent nuclear fuel in <\/span>wet storage pools<\/span><\/a> \u2014 water-filled pools that manage heat and radioactivity from the spent fuel \u2014 attached to each nuclear power plant due to the absence of a long-term repository.<\/span><\/p>\n South Korea has accumulated about <\/span>18,600 tons<\/span><\/a> of spent nuclear fuel, mostly in the form of spent fuel rods, since the country first began operating nuclear reactors in 1978.<\/span><\/p>\n The National Assembly\u2019s failure to pass the bill could also erode public trust in the government\u2019s ability to manage nuclear waste effectively, potentially <\/span>fueling<\/span><\/a> public opposition to nuclear power projects.<\/span><\/p>\n A wet storage facility for spent nuclear fuel rods at the Fukushima Daiichi site, Feb. 13, 2015, via\u00a0IAEA Imagebank<\/a>\u00a0(CC BY 2.0<\/a>)<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n ECONOMIC FALLOUT<\/b><\/p>\n Failing to pass the bill also poses economic risks to South Korea, the most notable being the potential impact on <\/span>electricity rates<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n As temporary storage facilities at nuclear power plants reach their capacity, the ROK will need to construct additional <\/span>dry cask storage facilities<\/span><\/a>, where spent nuclear fuel is sealed inside steel cylinders surrounded by concrete or steel for radiation shielding.<\/span><\/p>\n But the current lack of such dry storage facilities could hamper the operation of existing nuclear reactors, driving up electricity rates and putting financial strain on households and businesses that could affect the overall economy. They could also result in power shortages and blackouts, severely impacting industries across the country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In particular, shortages could disrupt South Korea\u2019s plans to build a $455 billion (622 trillion won) <\/span>semiconductor mega cluster<\/span><\/a> in Gyeonggi Province since the semiconductor industry relies heavily on a stable and reliable power supply.<\/span><\/p>\n With nuclear power accounting for about one-third of the country\u2019s electricity, any disruptions to nuclear power plant operations due to the saturation of temporary waste storage facilities could jeopardize the semiconductor industry\u2019s growth and job creation targets.<\/span><\/p>\n Moreover, the lack of a clear legal framework for nuclear waste management poses challenges to the competitiveness of South Korea\u2019s manufacturing sector. For instance, the European Union classifies nuclear power as an eco-friendly energy source but <\/span>requires<\/span><\/a> the construction of final disposal facilities.<\/span><\/p>\n Without a high-level radioactive waste repository, South Korea may face <\/span>disadvantages<\/span><\/a> in qualifying for subsidies from the EU for its use of nuclear power, potentially impacting its competitiveness in the global automobile, shipbuilding and steel markets.<\/span><\/p>\n South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol presides over a meeting to discuss the proposed semiconductor cluster, April 9, 2024 | Image:\u00a0ROK Presidential Office<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY HAZARDS<\/b><\/p>\n South Korea\u2019s temporary storage pools for nuclear waste are expected to reach <\/span>saturation<\/span><\/a> within the next decade, starting with the Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant in 2030, the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant in 2031 and the Gori Nuclear Power Plant in 2032.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Other nuclear plants have also set deadlines for temporarily storing nuclear waste on-site, including the Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant (2037), Shin-Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant (2042) and Saeul Nuclear Power Plant (2066).<\/span><\/p>\n Further, the lack of a permanent disposal solution for high-level radioactive waste raises concerns about the long-term environmental and health risks associated with nuclear waste management.<\/span><\/p>\n Failing to pass the bill also raises significant environmental and safety risks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Without a permanent disposal facility, spent nuclear fuel will continue to accumulate in temporary storage facilities, potentially for decades, increasing the likelihood of <\/span>environmental contamination and health hazards<\/span><\/a> in case of any accidents or leakages.<\/span><\/p>\n The prolonged absence of a permanent disposal solution also heightens the risk of radiation exposure for workers at nuclear power plants and the surrounding communities.<\/span><\/p>\n The longer the spent nuclear fuel remains in temporary storage facilities, the greater the likelihood of deterioration and potential safety breaches, which could have severe consequences for public health and the environment.<\/span><\/p>\n Saeul Nuclear Power Plant’s\u00a0units\u00a01\u00a0and\u00a02, July 6, 2022 | Image: Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n GLOBAL STANDING AND COOPERATION<\/b><\/p>\n The lack of a clear legal framework for nuclear waste management could hinder South Korea\u2019s efforts to expand its nuclear power exports and strengthen its partnerships with other nations.<\/span><\/p>\n About 350 experts from 108 organizations in 31 countries, including Finland, Canada, France, the Czech Republic, the U.K., Japan, Belgium and Australia, have gathered in Busan to attend the <\/span>Seventh International Conference on Geological Repositories<\/span><\/a> from May 27 to 31.<\/span><\/p>\n This conference, which aims to share issues and challenges related to high-level radioactive waste disposal, highlights the importance of international cooperation and adherence to best practices in nuclear waste management.<\/span><\/p>\n