Moving Forward With Nuclear Energy

By Chan Cheng Tuan

WITH rising oil prices, South Korea seems to have found an answer to its energy needs by depending on nuclear energy. CHAN CHENG TUAN, who was recently in Seoul, looks at the country’s sustainable energy programme.

South Korea is one of the leading countries in Asia which has successfully implemented sustainable energy initiatives.

It boasts of a successful hydro power and nuclear energy programme, which the country first started to explore following an energy crisis in the 1970s.

Wind, solar and tidal-powered energy are also making their mark. The country’s pride and joy, however, is its nuclear programme which provides for almost 40 per cent of the country’s energy needs.

Ulchin nuclear power site manager Jung Jae Woo said his country realised that it needed nuclear power since it was the safest and cleanest energy.

"Safety is our main priority. The reactor is encased in five protective layers and would immediately shut down in case of an accident.

"In our 30 years’ of operations, there has not been any major incident. Inspections are carried out every three months by the relevant agencies," he said in an interview during a South Korea- Asean media exchange programme on sustainable energy.

He said the latest technologies have also been incorporated in the plant to ensure that there are no untoward incidents.

Jung said the plant, which is managed by the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co Ltd, also emphasises staff safety, with the 2,800 employees required to periodically take part in emergency drills.

Its proper radioactive waste management is also governed by strict international standards.

The Ulchin nuclear power site, which is located on the east coast of the Korean peninsula, currently has six nuclear units in operation and is planning to add two more.

Each unit is capable of producing 1,000 megawatt hours (Mwh) of electricity. Last year, the six units generated 17 per cent more power than needed by the 10 million people in Seoul.

South Korea, which currently has a total of 20 units in operation, is the sixth largest nuclear power generating country in the world.

It is also proud that 95 per cent of its nuclear technology is homegrown. The uranium, meanwhile, is imported from countries like South Africa, Canada, Kazakhstan and Russia.

Jung said South Korea was looking towards exporting its nuclear technology, especially to countries in the region.

He said so far, Vietnam and Indonesia had expressed interest.

Jung added that nuclear energy had enabled South Korea to improve the living standards of its people and increase its competitiveness internationally.

He expects nuclear power to provide at least 45 per cent of the country’s energy needs by 2020.

The Ulchin nuclear power site has also become very much a part of the local community, constantly engaging the locals in various programmes such as music festivals and visits to the site.

The management also makes public its findings and holds explanatory meetings with the local government in efforts to keep the public informed.

Its nuclear information centre, which explains to the layman the intricacies of nuclear technology, is a hit and records 150,000 visitors a year, including foreigners.

(c) 2007 New Straits Times. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.