nuclear-news

Posted on : Oct.29,2012 14:03 KST

 The Hankyoreh

 

Uljin Nuclear reactor 2 was shut down early on Oct. 28 due to a technical problem. This was the thirteenth nuclear power plant failure this year, and the third this month. Back on Oct. 2, there were two shutdowns in one day, at Shinkori reactor 1 and Yeonggwang reactor 5. Despite the rash of technical issues, the authorities keep telling everyone that there’s nothing to worry about. It’s deeply troubling to wonder just how long we’re going to have to keep hearing these “reassurances.” Even a very small problem could lead to a major disaster if the response is poorly executed.

 

According to Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power, the breakdown at Uljin had nothing to do with the reactor’s safety, and the reactor is scheduled to go back on line once the broken equipment has been replaced, following approval from the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission. This is a canned response that we’ve heard every time there has been a problem, but it is an increasingly worrying one for the public. The Shinkori and Yeonggwang reactors that broke down early this month recently went back on line after an inspection, only to suffer further problems. This clearly shows that the problem doesn’t just go away when the broken parts are replaced.

 

Nor can we take everything the nuclear power authorities say at face value, if the cover-up of a shutdown at Kori reactor 1 is any indication. That reactor lost its cooling functions this past February, yet it took a full month for the shocking truth to emerge. The nuclear power authorities tightly control information – the public has no way of knowing if they’re hiding anything, or giving only part of the truth. Before coming to the public and saying, ‘Trust us, it’s safe,’ they should try being transparent with their information.

 

Easing public distrust of nuclear power will require a historic change in emphasis in power generation policy: prioritizing safety over operation ratios. The authorities boast that South Korea’s power plants are by far the most efficient in the world, with operating ratios of more than 90%. But this claim can be turned around as evidence of just how low of a priority safety is in our nuclear power plants. Instead of doing everything in our power to get the biggest ratios and profits we can, we should be increasing the length and number of safety inspections to prevent breakdowns.

 

We also need to reconsider the emphasis we put on nuclear power in our energy policy. Since the catastrophic Fukushima accident last year in Japan, most countries with nuclear plants have been moving away from nuclear energy. The South Korean government has been going in precisely the opposite direction, announcing plans to build another 10 reactors through 2030, with the goal of having nuclear power meet 59% of our electricity demand. On the surface, nuclear power may seem to be a cheap way of meeting our energy needs, but that price is dangerously deceptive, given the costs of closing a plant once its design life is over – to say nothing of the damage that would occur in the event of a major accident. Now is simply not the time for this anachronistic emphasis on nuclear power.