대형 원전 2기 경북 영덕에..'첫 도입' SMR은 부산 기장 / SBS 8뉴스

Anchor Yeongdeok, North Gyeongsang Province, has been selected as the site for two new large-scale nuclear power plants. This is a location where the establishment of a nuclear power plant was previously pursued. The Small Modular Reactor, which will be introduced for the first time, is scheduled to be built in Gijang, Busan. Reporter Jang Seon-i reports. Reporter Yeongdeok, North Gyeongsang Province, and Ulju, Ulsan, were the locations competing to host the two new large-scale nuclear power plants. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) held a nuclear power plant site selection committee meeting today (the 17th) and confirmed Yeongdeok as the site. Previously, the government announced plans to build two large-scale nuclear power plants with a total capacity of 2.8 GW and one Small Modular Reactor (SMR) with a capacity of 0.7 GW, in accordance with the 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand finalized last February. Yeongdeok is the site that was selected for a nuclear power plant in 2012 during the Lee Myung-bak administration, but the plan was scrapped during the Moon Jae-in administration due to the nuclear phase-out policy. With a resident approval rate exceeding 80%, the fact that nearly 20% of the site has already been acquired has been cited as a key advantage. This is because it allows for the reduction of procedures, costs, and time. The target completion date for the new nuclear power plant is between 2037 and 2038, and it is expected to contribute to meeting the growing electricity demand driven by the expansion of the artificial intelligence and semiconductor industries. [Choi Seong-min / President of the Korean Nuclear Society: Globally, electricity demand is rapidly increasing due to AI data centers and electrification for carbon neutrality. As a nation equipped with a world-class nuclear industry, Korea already possesses the capability to expand nuclear power.] Gijang in Busan was selected as the site for the first domestic SMR, beating out Gyeongju in North Gyeongsang Province. Gijang has been touted for its advantage of linking with nuclear industry infrastructure, as it is home to Kori Units 2, 3, and 4. While today's site selection has given momentum to the construction of the new nuclear power plant, environmental groups are expected to protest, arguing that the site was chosen without a plan for radioactive waste management. (Video Editing: Nam Il) #SBSNews #News #Live Copyright Ⓒ SBS. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, and use for AI learning are prohibited.