South Korea’s KHNP To Resume Work On Shin Kori-5 And -6 In November, Say Reports

27 Oct (NucNet): South Korea’s state-run nuclear operator Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Corporation (KHNP) plans to resume construction of the Shin Kori-5 and -6 reactor units on 8 November 2017, reports in local media said. KHNP confirmed in a report submitted yesterday to South Korea’s parliament that it will resume work on major facilities at the Shin-Kori site near Ulsan and will compensate all sub-contractors for construction delays by the end of November 2017, Yonhap news agency said. In June 2017 South Korea’s president Moon Jae-in said he would phase out nuclear power and KHNP decided to suspend construction of Shin-Kori-5 and -6. Media reports at the time said KHNP had already spent about $1.4bn (€1.2bn) on construction of the two pressurised water reactors and there might be legal and compensation issues if construction was completely halted. According to Yonhap, there are 113 sub-contractors involved in the project, including major companies like Samsung and Doosan. Earlier this week, Mr Moon ordered the South Korean government to allow the stalled construction of Shin Kori-5 and -6 to resume in line with recommendations made by a state commission last week. The commission, composed of 471 citizens, said 59.5% of its members supported resuming the project. The commission was established to look into Mr Moon’s plans to suspend construction of the two reactors as part of his announced phase-out policy.