'Global Energy Leader'

KHNP President Kim unveils tasks for the power company in 2008

Kim Jong-shin, president of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP), has urged his executives and staff members to step up the company's competitiveness through continuous innovation.
Kim said in a speech at a ceremony to launch 2008 on Jan. 2 at the company headquarters, "KHNP will step on the gas to ensure sustainable management and competitiveness by securing the safety of nuclear power and the reliability of equipment and facilities with the goal of evolving into a global energy leader."Kim stressed that KHNP will be committed to the construction of nuclear power units, including Shinkori Units 1 to 4, Shinwolsong Units 1 and 2 and Shin-ulchin Units 1 and 2, and will meet the people's expectations by building the world's top-rated safe and reliable radwaste treatment facility.
Kim said, "Let's put ourselves in others'shoes by securing the social acceptance of nuclear power projects."He also called for the continuous streamlining of the organization,
more efficient work performance and the unity and harmony of all staff to ensure mature, ethical management and amicable management-labor ties.
Meanwhile, in his New Year message, the KHNP CEO looked back at the year 2007 which he said made more achievements than expected in several areas despite difficulties. KHNP was engaged in the safety operation of nuclear and hydroelectric power plants, its assets, broke ground for the construction of a radwaste treatment center and accelerated projects to build new nuclear units, while it finished fueling for the continual operation of Kori Nuclear Unit 1, Korea first nuclear power unit, which was given a permission to prolong its lifespan for another 10 years after its 30-year-old design life.
The achievements were owed to his staff who got their jobs done according to their management goals, said the KHNP CEO Kim, adding, "For this year, we have to make a dynamic step forward for the hopes of our future and an advancement."Kim urged his staff to achieve 2008 management goals, including the ones to raise the safety and reliability of power plants and push ahead with projects to construct new nuclear power plants and a radwaste treatment facility, the subject of public attention, without a hitch, adding that they should pledge their resolution to fulfill their agreements on the implementation of the projects with the goal of making it a company beloved by people.
The domestic nuclear power industry, which began with the inauguration of the Kori Unit 1 in 1987, sustained a fast growth until the 1990s before recently undergoing a correction period for a considerable period due to the related parties'higher expectations and global antinuclear activities, he said. However, Kim said, global views over nuclear power have now changed and the Korean nuclear power industry is expected to make another leap forward in an era of renaissance of nuclear power due to an worsening of global warming and limits on alternative energy sources. nw

KHNP CEO Kim Jong-shin speaks on its 2008 plans during a ceremony to launch 2008 on Jan. 2.

KHNP CEO Kim Jong-shin