SEOUL: South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Friday that the country's nuclear power facilities will be fully operational under its nuclear phase-out plan, describing nuclear power as a major source of electricity for the next 60 years.
"Nuclear power plants should be fully exploited as a main base source of electricity over the next 60 years, while nuclear power plants continue to run," Moon said during a meeting on steady power supply, according to presidential spokesperson Park Kyung-mee.
The construction of four nuclear reactors such as Shin-Hanul Nos. 1 and No.2, as well as Shin-Kori Nos. 5 and No.6, reportedly has been delayed due to safety checks and other concerns. Because safety criteria for operations have strengthened, Moon asked officials to make efforts to progressively start operations at the four nuclear reactors, Park said.
The Korean government's energy transition policy, according to Moon, is to gradually halt the building of new nuclear power plants while prohibiting the extension of the lifespan of existing nuclear power plants until 2084. Moon requested that officials "make every effort to protect the safety of nuclear power facilities while maintaining proper operation rates," Park said.
Moon's nuclear phase-out plan focuses on gradually transitioning away from nuclear energy by abstaining from building new reactors and retiring old ones.
Seoul calls for a resumption of talks with North Korea.
