Kori 1 to be South Korea's first nuclear plant to be dismantled

South Korea’s nuclear regulator has approved the dismantling of the first unit at the Kori 1 nuclear power plant, making it the first permanently retired unit in the country. The plant ended nearly four decades of operation in 2017. Dismantling work is expected to take more than a decade.

Construction of nuclear units has once again moved into the spotlight in the wake of the energy crisis of recent years, and not only in Europe. Alongside plans to build new units, however, ageing power plants are also being retired and dismantled. South Korea is preparing to dismantle its first nuclear power plant, after the country’s nuclear regulator approved the dismantling of the Kori 1 unit last week.

Kori 1 was South Korea’s first commercially operated nuclear unit, entering service in 1978. However, after 39 years of operation, the unit was permanently shut down in 2017. The country’s nuclear regulator has now approved KHNP’s plan to dismantle the unit. The work is expected to take 12 years in total and cost the equivalent of $810 million.

The nuclear safety authority said the dismantling plan submitted by KHNP meets all technical requirements, according to the agency. The decision paves the way for the permanent retirement of the country’s first nuclear power plant. South Korea is the world’s fifth-largest producer of nuclear power.

Industry experts told Reuters that dismantling Kori 1 could open the door for South Korea to take part in nuclear decommissioning projects abroad. The sector is dominated by the United States, although German and Japanese companies have also been expanding their presence in the market in recent years.

Nuclear power plays a significant role in South Korea’s electricity mix. Nuclear sources accounted for almost one-third of the country’s electricity generation last year, according to Reuters, citing government data.