South Korea's return to nuclear power: Production begins on key components for Shin Hanul units 3 and 4

A ceremony marking the start of production of major equipment for units 3 and 4 of the Shin Hanul nuclear power plant was held at Doosan Enerbility's factory in Changwon, South Korea. Plans to build both units were put on hold in 2017. The project is set to resume next year, after a seven-year hiatus.

In November 2014, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) signed an agreement with Uljin County to build units 3 and 4 of the Shin Hanul plant. The company applied for construction permits for the units in January 2016. Site preparation for both units was due to begin in May 2017. Unit 3 was scheduled to enter commercial operation in December 2022, with unit 4 following a year later.

Nuclear phase-out under the new president's policy

In May 2017, however, KHNP announced that it had instructed Kepco Engineering & Construction, with which it had signed a project contract in March 2016, to suspend work on the planned Shin Hanul units 3 and 4. The reason was the policy of the newly elected president at the time, Moon Jae-in, who had decided to gradually reduce nuclear power generation. Work on licensing the new units was not halted.