KHNP Radwaste Project
Div. Wins Kyunghyang
Electricity/Energy Pres. Award

Praised for drawing public consensus in a democratic and open manner

Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) Radwaste Project Division has been awarded the Kyunghyang Electricity/Energy Presidential Award for finding a low- and intermediate-level radwaste disposal site, thus laying the foundation for ensuring long-term operations of nuclear power plants.
The KHNP Radwaste Project Division was praised for drawing a consensus among residents on the construction of a radwaste disposal facility in their neighborhood in a democratic and transparent manner.
The KHNP Radwaste Project Division was among the 23 individuals and organizations that were presented with prizes in recognition of their contribution to the development of the electricity and energy industries. The ceremony to present the 23rd Kyunghyang Electricity/Energy Awards, organized by KEPCO and the Kyunghyang Daily News, and supported by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Energy, was held at the auditorium of the Korea Electric Power Corporation on Nov. 21.
A project to build a low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste storage facility broke ground at the construction site at Bonggil-ri, Yangbuk-myeon, Gyeongju City on Nov. 9 marking a milestone in Korea's radwaste treatment solution, and a monumental step in the nation's nuclear energy development.
It is noteworthy that the smooth launch of the project to construct the Weolsung Nuclear Power Environmental Management Center has been made possible by national consensus and harmony.
At the temporary storage facility of each nuclear power plant, Korea has been keeping low- and immediate-level radwaste that has been discharged by nuclear units for the past 30 years. The problem is that the Ulchin Nuclear Power Plant will become the first power plant to run out of room at its temporary radwaste storage facility in 2008. Finding a site to build a low- and intermediate-level radwaste disposal facility had been an urgent and daunting task the government had to address to promote the continued generation and development of nuclear power. Nuclear power accounts for nearly 40 percent of the nation's electricity consumption, contributing greatly to the nation's economic development.
However, this essential state project failed to gain momentum due to the "NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) syndrome"against such unwanted projects as nuclear facilities and prisons.
It was in November 2005 that the KHNP Radwaste Project Division succeeded in securing a site for the construction of the overdue radwaste disposal center. Learning from previous failures - a loss of confidence over policies and a lack of involved parties'active and systematic countermeasures - the KHNP Radwaste Project Division presented a solution to address the decades-long issue, based on a democratic and open process. This set a good precedent by solving one of the nation's most controversial conflicts. As the government made finding a site for the projected radwaste disposal facility a priority, the KHNP Radwaste Project Division established a department exclusively responsible for doing this.The division took preliminary steps, including publicity designed to enhance neighborhood residents'acceptance, and collection of involved parties'views, as well as soliciting their input in working out policies.
It also performed a site feasibility study and an environmental impact assessment survey, and gained the IAEA's confirmation of the safety of candidate sites for the radwaste disposal center.
In April 2005, the government came to the division's aid in selecting the site by legislating a special act to provide support to the area in which the radwaste disposal center will be built. The legislation was designed to minimize social conflicts, remove misgivings over the safety of the nuclear facility, and guarantee economic assistance.In accordance with the act, a radwaste disposal center site selection committee was formed to make the final selection of the radwaste disposal site. The committee was comprised of representatives from the humanities, social sciences, science and technology, the press, and civic circles.
Four candidate cities - Gyeongju, Gunsan, Pohang and Yeongdeok - submitted their respective bids for attracting the radwaste disposal center site. Gyeongju was the successful bidder, as it got a voting rate of 70.8 percent and approval rate of 89.5 percent, the highest scores among the competitors. nw

(right photo) Min Kye-hong, senior vice president of KHNP's Radwaste Project Division. KHNP's Radwaste Project Division has won the Kyunghyang Electricity/Energy Presidential Award.