nuclear-news

South Korea cuts target for nuclear power Ft.com By Simon Mundy in Seoul 14 Jan 14 Seoul has drastically reduced its long-term target for nuclear power generation, adding to the pressure on the South Korean nuclear industry amid a major corruption scandal……

nuclear power’s reduced share of the future energy mix reflects increased popular opposition to nuclear power following Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi disaster almost three years ago, as well as recent allegations of large-scale corruption in South Korea’s domestic nuclear sector.

Last year three of the country’s 23 nuclear reactors were shut down after investigators found that safety certificates had been forged for thousands of components – in many cases, allegedly, because of bribes paid to nuclear plant designers.

The chief executive of Kepco, the national electricity company that is the monopoly provider of nuclear power, resigned as the scandal gathered pace in November 2012.

The revelations have thrown the spotlight on a tightly knit domestic industry that some local media dubbed the “nuclear mafia”, and raised fears of power cuts as energy usage surged last summer.