The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment will launch a public opinion poll this week on building two new nuclear power plants and one Small Modular Reactor (SMR).
On the 13th, at the Government Sejong Complex, Vice Minister Lee Ho-hyeon said at a "public institutions work report briefing," "We will begin full-fledged public debate on building new nuclear power plants within this week," adding, "Two agencies will conduct an ARS survey of 3,000 people, and I understand it will be completed within this week."
Earlier, through the "11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand," the government projected electricity demand by 2038 at 129.3 GW and expected that 10.3 GW of new generation capacity would be needed. Accordingly, it had decided that two large nuclear power plants would need to be built in 2037–2038.
However, the Lee Jae-myung administration decided to reexamine this during the drafting of the 12th basic electricity plan. The climate ministry held the "first energy mix policy forum" on the 30th of last month and began full-fledged discussions.
The Vice Minister said, "When the results come out comprehensively, we will review public forums and expert opinions in an integrated manner and, before long, decide and announce plans and directions for new nuclear power plants."
However, the government decided not to disclose in advance the criteria for selecting a polling institute, the sampling method, those surveyed, or the questions. An official at the climate ministry said, "If we disclose (the information) in advance, various problems could arise."