New committee to decide on key matters governing rapid rollout of additional nuclear capacity
South Korea’s Ministry of Science and Information and Communication Technology has passed a special small modular reactor (SMR) development act in the National Assembly as the country aims to catch up with others in the SMR race.
The ministry confirmed the news on its website. It said that until now South Korea had focused on developing large-scale nuclear plants, while other countries such as the US and UK had already enacted laws to support the growth of SMRs.
Under the new legislation, the ministry said it would establish an SMR development plan and implementation plan, which it would update every five years and which would cover SMR development goals, R&D and promotion strategies and financing.
The government said the plan would be established within one year following cabinet and presidential approval.
In addition, it said it would pursue new large-scale projects to accelerate the completion of SMR core technology development and design alongside private companies to prepare for commercialisation.
“The nuclear community has continuously called for the enactment of special legislation to ensure policy consistency for SMRs and accelerate research and development, and this long-standing wish of the nuclear community has been fulfilled through the passage of the SMR Special Act in the National Assembly,” the ministry said in a statement.
An SMR system development promotion committee would also be created that would decide on key matters governing a rapid rollout of SMR capacity.
Ministry To Support Public-Private Drive
The ministry said it would support the creation of public-private companies and research institutes to successfully develop SMR technology, as well as training facilities to secure professionals to operate them.
Deputy prime minister Bae Kyung-hoon welcomed the news. “The National Assembly’s passage of the SMR Special Act is an achievement that embodies the will of the National Assembly and the government to accelerate the development of SMRs, a core energy source in the AI era, and a leap forward as a global SMR leader,” he said.
The statement said that the ministry expected the act to serve as a key foundation for accelerating R&D, proving SMRs as a stable carbon-free energy source and “for Korea to take the lead in the global SMR market”.
The ministry also said that it would implement policies to increase understanding and acceptance of SMRs among the general public.
South Korea has 26 nuclear units in commercial operation, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as two, Saeul-3 and -4 listed as under construction. Together the 26 units provide 31.7% of the country’s electricity production.
Global interest in SMRs, meanwhile, is gathering pace, as their smaller design means lower upfront costs and flexibility in construction, and they can also be deployed in remote regions or to provide energy to heavy industry.
