Rather Than Performance Improvement

Some in the industry are expressing concerns as the government is shifting its focus from R&D for the performance enhancement of nuclear power to that for decommissioning.
Some in the industry are expressing concerns as the government is shifting its focus from R&D for the performance enhancement of nuclear power to that for decommissioning.

The South Korean government’s nuclear power R&D is increasingly focusing on decommissioning and safety enhancement in step with the Moon Jae-in administration’s zero-nuclear power policy. Under the circumstances, experts point out that South Korea’s competitiveness in the global nuclear power plant market may be negatively affected with technological R&D for performance enhancement neglected.

According to industry sources, the Ministry of Science and ICT’s nuclear power-related R&D budget for this year totals 203.6 billion won (US$183 million) and 68.7 billion won (US$61 million) out of the total is scheduled to be invested in decommissioning technology and safety enhancement measures. The amount for the purposes was 60 billion won (US$54 million) last year.
 

The ministry is planning to develop 38 source technologies and 58 commercial technologies for nuclear power plant decommissioning by 2021 in cooperation with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. 13.8 billion won (US$12 million) is invested to that end this year. In addition, 9.6 billion won (US$8.6 million) has been earmarked for seismic performance enhancement, accident prevention and risk assessment technique development and 21.2 billion won (US$19 million) is invested this year for development of nuclear waste disposal techniques and used nuclear fuel containers.

The government is planning to make more use of nuclear power technology in the fields of medical and biotechnology as well. In this regard, an isotope treatment platform is set up and clinical techniques are developed next year. An investment of 18.8 billion won (US$17 million) goes to radiopharmaceuticals and industrial material R&D. Industrial clusters will be formed in Seoul, Daejeon and North Jeolla Province and more assistance will be provided for research reactor and small reactor export.


Some in the industry are expressing concerns as the government is shifting its focus from R&D for performance enhancement. “Performance improvement is as important as safety enhancement and decommissioning in nuclear power R&D,” one of them mentioned, adding, “Too much concentration on the latter may blunt South Korea’s competitive edge in the nuclear power plant industry.”

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