Safety, the Main Concern

KHNP to build the radioactive waste disposal facility in Gyeongju, ensuring safety

Finding a site to build the radioactive waste disposal facility has been a nagging problem for almost two decades for Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co (KHNP). But finally in November, 2005, the company succeeded in selecting the site in Bongil-ri, Yangbuk -myeon, Gyeongju-si in North Gyeongsang Province, deep in the mountainous region, right next to Wolsong nuclear power generating stations in southeastern part of the country.
From this year, the company is going to kick off the construction work and Daewoo Consortium has been recently selected as the construction contractor responsible for the first stage construction of the facility.
Min Kye-hong, senior vice president of the Radwaste Project Division of the KHNP, who took over the position in April, says the highest priority goes to safety of the disposal facility and he is so glad that the crucial project is being implemented very smoothly, although it took some 20 years to find the site and solve other matters.
It was a win-win situation for every party concerned, the government, the local government, the residents and other stake-holders, becoming a model for similar processes that may occur in the future, he said.
He says the ground work for the first stage of the project to dispose 100,000 drums of low & intermediate level radioactive waste, is scheduled to start from later part of this year and he is to make sure that the work goes smoothly without a hitch under a well-prepared plan. He says the job he has to do at this stage is to solve various problems to ensure that the project is undertaken as planned.
Currently his division exercises a lot of efforts to get various licenses and permits needed to begin the construction of the facility. "Stake-holders' involvement is very important for this kind of project", Min mentions. When deciding disposal method, KHNP followed the opinion of the special committee, representing local government and residents, which recommended 'rock-cavern method'.
Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE) are in the process of reviewing KHNP's application to build and operate the facility submitted in January. MOCIE's approval is expected next month.
Min mentions that to ensure the safety, KHNP plans to utilize the third party inspectors to check the construction contractor's work.
Supporting local community is also being actively taken care of through consultations with Gyeongju-si such as the relocation of KHNP head office and what the company can do in support of the local community.
In addition to this project, Min mentions that national policy for the spent nuclear fuel management should be established urgently, considering that the existing storage facilities will be full from 2016, with no room to expand.
From early this year, the government has put in motion a expert committee on public discussion for spent nuclear fuel under the Presidential National Energy Committee to publicly discuss how to manage spent nuclear fuel.
KHNP can boast its superb technology in building and operating nuclear power plants, but it is the first time for the company to build the radioactive waste disposal facility.
Therefore, building the low & intermediate level disposal facility safely and thus winning the public support is an important prerequisite to the timely establishment of the national policy for spent nuclear fuel management. nw

(right photo) Min Kye-hong, senior vice president of the Radwaste Project Division of the KHNP. A bird's eye view of the projected radioactive waste disposal facility in Bongil-ri, Yangbuk-myeon, North Gyeongsang Province