President Chung Jae-hoon of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power. (KHNP)

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) is seeking to extend the power generation business license on the two planned Shin Hanul units 3 and 4 in Uljin, Gyeongsangbuk-do, whose construction was suspended due to the government’s policy of weaning the nation off nuclear power.

The expiry of the power generation business license for Shin Hanul units 3 and 4 would ban KHNP from implementing new and renewable energy power generation projects, as regulated by law.

To prevent this, chances are high the government will extent the work license of the nuclear power units.

KHNP said the power company decided to submit to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy a request for extending the work permit on the Shin Hanul units 3 and 4 in January.

KHNP conveyed the message verbally to MOTIE and it plans to send a related written request in January.

The reason behind the request is that the expiry of the power generation business license might disrupt the implementation of other renewable energy projects.

A power generation license for the two Shin Hanul units 3 and 4 was granted in February 2017.

The project is to be cancelled automatically unless KHNP obtains a permit for the next-step from MOTIE in accordance with the Act on Electrical Business.

Despite the government’s policy of weaning the nation off nuclear power, KHNP plans to request an extension of the license.

If the Shin Hanul project is cancelled, KHNP will be banned from other power generation business licenses for two years.

Under the stewardship of President Chung Jae-hoon, KHNP is stepping on the gas to expand renewable energy projects in Korea and abroad to become an integrated energy company.

In his New Year’s message delivered on Jan. 4, President Chung said: “We have to become an integrated energy company encompassing nuclear power, hydro power, pumping-up power, and renewable energy and make it a winner in competition with world-class companies.”

KHNP plans to secure photovoltaic power, wind power, fuel cell and other renewable power generation facilities with a combined capacity of 8.4GW by investing 20 trillion won by 2030.

KHNP considered the possibility that the cancellation of the license will lead to Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction filing a lawsuit for failing to supply nuclear reactors and other components to the planned nuclear units.

Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction suffered losses stemming from producing nuclear power equipment under prior approval from KHNP to meet its supply deadline before a formal product contract was signed.

There is a possibility that the cancellation of the Shin Hanul Units 3 & 4 license would reignite controversies over the government’s anti-nuclear power policies as did ones related to the disclosure of Wolsong Nuclear Power Unit 1.

MOTIE officials have been probed by the Board of Audit and the prosecution for their making up the feasibility of the nuclear power to lead its earlier death.

A bird’s eye-view of the Shin Hanul Nuclear Power Units 3 & 4. (Photos: KHNP)

MOTIE did not include the Shin Hanul Units 3 & 4 in the 9th power supply-demand master plan, finalized last December, but it is expected to extend the license of the power units.

Even if KHNP is allowed to extend the license, the power company cannot resume the construction of the nuclear power units due to the President Moon Jae-in government’s anti-nuclear power policies.

In a Facebook tweet made last December, President Chung was pondering over the Shin Hanul Units 3 & 4 issue regardless of the 9th power supply-demand master plan.

KHNP suspended the design work of Shin Hanul Units 3 & 4 in May 2017 in accordance with President Moon government’s anti-nuclear power policies.

The project has been put on hold with preparatory work being finished, as the government announced a road on energy paradigm shift and removed the Shin Hanul Units 3 & 4 from the 8th power supply and demand master plan.