KHNP, Candu Energy to cooperate in decommissioning

Friday, 25 November 2022

A Memorandum of Understanding between Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and SNC-Lavalin subsidiary Candu Energy will see the two companies cooperate in areas such as decommissioning waste and digital twins, and work together on a system to exchange technology, information and experience.

KHNP, Candu Energy to cooperate in decommissioning — The MoU was signed at SNC-Lavalin's headquarters in Canada on 21 November (Image: KHNP)

KHNP said it is increasing its capacity to dismantle nuclear power plant: Korea's oldest reactor, Kori 1 - a 576 MWe pressurised water reactor - closed in June 2017 after 40 years of service, having had a ten-year licence extension, and Wolsong 1, the country's first Candu 6 unit, was taken offline in May 2018 and declared closed in December 2019.

KHNP is planning to carry out "immediate dismantling" of Wolsong 1 - rather than delayed decommissioning, when dismantling is not carried out until more than 60 years after the reactor has shut - and said this would be a world first for a commercial heavy water reactor.

In addition to securing nuclear power plant dismantling capabilities, the MoU will also serve as an opportunity to advance into the overseas decommissioning market, it said.