South Korea faces looming nuclear waste crisis

• 12 days ago (2024-04-26)
• David Flin

Asia 850 Nuclear 640

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South Korea is facing the issue of saturation of its capacity to store spent nuclear fuel by 2030.

To address this issue, the South Korean government is looking to expedite selection of a site for a permanent disposal facility and commence construction by the end of 2024. However, progress is contingent on the passing of the pending Special Act on Managing High-Level Radioactive Waste in the 21st session of the National Assembly.

This special act targets the safe disposal of approximately 18 600 tons of spent nuclear fuel accumulated since construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant in 1978. Failure to process the bill by May 2024, the end of the term for the 21st National Assembly, will result in its automatic dismissal.

South Korea currently stores its spent nuclear fuel within temporary facilities at the nuclear plant sites. However, full capacity will soon be reached, with Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant reaching storage capacity in 2030, and Kori in 2032.