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| Shin Hanul nuclear reactors in Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province Korea Times file |
By Lee Kyung-min
The energy ministry is seeking to establish a bureau dedicated to facilitating the export of Korea's nuclear power generation systems. In the latest efforts to make better use of the much-maligned yet affordable and stable source of energy for economic growth, according to officials, Wednesday.
Influencing the ministry's move is a global wave of increasing dependence on nuclear energy, sparked largely by energy crisis concerns due to heightened geopolitical uncertainties and subsequent volatile fluctuations in key commodity prices.
Some left-leaning voices continue to highlight the deadliest possible scenarios, as witnessed in the past due to mismanagement of nuclear power facilities. They also included the thorny question of the radioactive waste conundrum. However, the ministry says the pro-nuclear energy policies will be defined first and foremost by safety and security.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy is expected to create the new bureau, soon after the ongoing government's restructuring plan is approved by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. The date of the announcement has not been finalized.
This was confirmed by First Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Jang Young-jin, Monday, during a press meeting in Sejong City.
"We will create a new bureau to strengthen the nuclear energy initiative," he said. "Specifics will be outlined after the interior ministry's broader reorganization is complete."
The fortified bureau will provide a significant boost to a soon-to-be-launched cooperative group of state-run and private energy firms to expedite the export of Korea's nuclear power systems. Among them are Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) as well as financial service providers.
Korea plans to increase the portion of nuclear power in its energy mix to over 30 percent by 2030.
Energy Minister Lee Chang-yang visited the Czech Republic and Poland on June 28 and 29 to bolster cooperation on nuclear and hydrogen energy. This was the first official overseas trip of the energy minister, who was accompanied by representatives of a dozen state-run and leading private energy firms.
President Yoon Suk-yeol also sought the promotion of Korea's nuclear energy technologies during the NATO Summit in Spain last month.
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