South Korea's oldest nuclear reactor has been
shut down permanently after four decades in
operation.
The full dismantling of the reactor is expected
to take at least 15 years.
Kim Hyo-sun reports.
After 40 years of non-stop operation,... Korea's
oldest nuclear reactor was powered down on
Sunday.
The Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Corporation
says it suspended the power supply of the
Kori-1 reactor in the southeastern city of
Busan,... as a first step toward its permanent
shutdown.
Jun. 17, 2017
"Kori-1 turbine to stop operation.
Three, two, one, stop "
The reactor started commercial operations
in 1978... with a lifespan of 30 years that
was extended by a decade in 2007.
The government decided not to give it another
extension... as part of President Moon Jae-in's
pledge to gradually close down all nuclear
power plants in the country.
The full dismantling of the facilities is
expected to take at least 15 years,... at
an estimated cost of some 880 million U.S.
dollars.
Korea still needs to acquire more than a dozen
of the 58 dismantling technologies.
"We've yet to acquire 17 technologies.
We have started our research... and we are
close to achieving some of them."
Korea needs to provide a plan for the highly
radioactive spent fuel rods,... as there's
no treatment facility for nuclear waste in
the country.
Officials also need to figure out how to utilize
the restored reactor site.
Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.
