As the government said it would build additional nuclear power plants to supply electricity to the "Honam semiconductor cluster," attention is turning to new sites. The government initially judged that it was possible to build two new reactors on the existing site of the Hanbit headquarters in Yeonggwang County, South Jeolla, but it will not be easy because Yeonggwang County is opposed to hosting new reactors.
Experts say the current method of selecting new nuclear plant sites—through solicitations from local governments—makes it highly likely that more plants will be concentrated along the east coast line. That is because the east coast region is more receptive to nuclear power than the Honam region. Some also argue for enacting a special law that would allow power infrastructure to be built alongside any location where a semiconductor fab (fabrication, semiconductor-only factory) is established.
According to government officials on the 20th, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment is focused on organizing key policy tasks ahead of a presidential briefing scheduled for next month. In particular, measures to supply power and water to the Honam semiconductor cluster are expected to be included among the top priorities.
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix plan to invest 800 trillion won in the Honam region to build four semiconductor plants. Semiconductor production requires large amounts of water and a stable 24-hour power supply. With the success of the investment plan hinging on securing infrastructure, the industry is calling for concrete implementation measures from the government.
The government has made it official that it will include new nuclear plants in the 12th Basic Plan for Long-term Electricity Supply and Demand. Minister Kim Seong-hwan of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said at the National Fiscal Strategy Meeting presided over by President Lee Jae-myung on the 13th, "We will decide whether to introduce new nuclear plants and small modular reactors (SMRs) after gathering expert opinions and conducting a public consultation."
The question is where to build the reactors. The government is reviewing a plan to build new reactors on existing nuclear sites. It says there is enough space to build two units each at the Hanbit headquarters in Yeonggwang County, South Jeolla, and the Saeul headquarters in Ulju County, Ulsan. Earlier, the Minister said on a radio program, "There is land to build a total of four units, two each in Yeonggwang, South Jeolla, and Ulju, Ulsan."
It usually takes about 15 years to build a nuclear power plant. Starting with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP)'s site solicitation, the site evaluation and selection process, local council approval rates, and opinion surveys of residents within a 5-kilometer radius take several months. This is followed by roughly two to three years for construction permits and about 10 to 14 years for actual construction and commissioning.
In the energy industry, many say it will be difficult to build new reactors in Yeonggwang County, South Jeolla, contrary to the government's plan. That is because Yeonggwang County did not apply to host a new reactor site when the government selected new sites in June, citing environmental concerns. Heads of basic local governments wishing to host must submit an application that includes a local council consent form and a plan to secure resident acceptance. Without applying directly, the construction of a new reactor falls apart from the first step.
New nuclear sites within the Honam region are also being discussed as alternatives. In the past, nine areas including Jindo, Haenam, Jangheung, Goheung, and Yeosu were designated as candidate sites for nuclear plants in the 1980s under a government-led plan, but the designations were lifted in 1998. However, because the review focused only on the site itself, excluding resident acceptance and permitting procedures, the actual feasibility of building nuclear plants there is uncertain.
Considering resident acceptance, the biggest hurdle, there is also a possibility of building two units at the Saeul headquarters in Ulju County, Ulsan. A plan to use the training center site within the headquarters is being actively discussed. Ulju County applied to autonomously host a new reactor site but was eliminated in the final candidate selection. As Ulju County has signaled a renewed bid to host, resident opposition is expected to be limited.
Jeong Beom-jin, a professor at Kyunghee University, said, "Seeing local governments compete to host nuclear plants this time, I thought the resident acceptance stage would gradually shrink. If we use the existing reactor design at the Saeul headquarters site and shorten the review period, it is fully possible to cut the construction period to seven years."
Some argue that because a semiconductor fab will be built in the Honam region, a special law should be enacted to allow power infrastructure to be built in the same place. Under the current decision-making structure, in which local governments apply directly, there is a high possibility that reactors will continue to be built along the east coast line.
An energy industry official said, "If reactors are built through local government bids as they are now, the fairness issue that the region producing electricity differs from the region consuming it could become more pronounced than in the past," adding, "There is a need to push for the enactment of a special law."