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South Korea to become nuclear power giant, with the help of USA

.But a growing radioactive waste stockpile which already amounts to 10,800 tonnes, coupled with a US ban on reprocessing, is fuelling uncertainty about the industry’s future.

S.Korea’s nuclear dreams hinge on new deal with US, Energy Gas Oil, SEOUL, March 7 (AFP) –– South Korea, which has spent decades developing nuclear power to make up for its lack of oil, now hopes to become a global leader in atomic energy as the world turns away from fossil fuels.A Seoul-led consortium, triumphing over more experienced competitors, won a 20.4 billion dollar contract last December to build four nuclear plants in the United Arab Emirates..
…But a growing radioactive waste stockpile which already amounts to 10,800 tonnes, coupled with a US ban on reprocessing, is fuelling uncertainty about the industry’s future.

Nuclear-armed neighbour North Korea is an added complication, along with Seoul’s own atomic weapons research in previous decades.

The United States fears that allowing the South to reprocess fuel could undermine efforts to denuclearise the North….nuclear waste is becoming a pressing problem for an industry which generates 30 percent of the country’s electricity. Temporary storage pools at 20 plants will be full by 2016 because the plants generate 700 tonnes of waste a year.

Building a permanent storage facility deep underground would arouse fierce opposition in the small and densely populated nation…..Any US decision to let the South develop reprocessing or enrichment capabilities could have negative effects on negotiations with the North, said Scott Snyder, director of the Asia Foundation’s Centre for US-Korea Policy.

Energy Gas Oil: S.Korea’s nuclear dreams hinge on new deal with US

March 8, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics international, South Korea | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons