Due to Possible Earthquake
Cho Seok, president of the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. said that his company will reconsider building the 5th and 6th units of Shin Gori Nuclear Power Station if it is found that Yangsan Dislocation triggered a recent earthquake in Gyeongju with a magnitude of 5.8 on the Richter scale.
“If a review is needed, we will review the plan,” president Cho answered when asked about what he will do about the construction of the two units if it is found that Yangsan Dislocation set off the earthquake in Gyeongju by Kim Jeong-hoon, a lawmaker of the Saenuri Party during the parliamentary inspection of the administration (electric power generation companies) by the Industry, Commerce and Resources Committee at the National Assembly on October 10.
Before the question, “During the permission of the construction of the fifth and sixth units of the Shin Gori Nuclear Power Plant on June 23, the activities of Yangsan Dislocation was not checked in the process. But as the earthquake changed the situation, the construction needs reconsidering,” lawmaker Kim pointed out.
“It has not been determined yet that the activities of Yangsan Dislocation sparked off the earthquake,” president Cho said. “Some geological experts claim that it was not Yangsan Dislocation that caused the earthquake.”
“It is the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. that should take the lead in making a change in the project,” lawmaker Kim said. “Accordingly, the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. should not simply wait for the results of a geological survey. The company must ask the government or authoritative organizations whether or not Yangsan Dislocation kindled the earthquake in writing.”
During the inspection of the administration on the day, it was pointed out that 53 units at coal-fired thermal power plants across the nation emit a total of 3,500 tons of total suspended particles (TSPs) a year. As the proportion of find dust in all TSPs is estimated at 6 to 30%, it can be said that coal-fired power plants emit 1,000 tons of fine dust a year.
Yoo Dong-soo, a lawmaker of the Minjoo Party said that 18 facilities of five power generation companies surpassed emissions limits on sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides. “Superannuated facilities built before 1998 are subject to a limit on sulfur oxides emission which is 100ppm. Seven facilities including the second unit of Jeju Coal-Fired Power Plant of Korea Midland Power emitted more sulfur oxides than the limit,” lawmaker Yoo said. “As for nitrogen oxides, the application of a limit of 140ppm found out that 11 facilities including one at Yeongdong HQ of Korea South-East Power Co. defied the limit,”
Lawmaker Yoo also pointed out that 60 power generators are devoid of emissions reduction devices.