The Shin Hanul nuclear reactors in Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province, are seen in this file photo. Newsis
The Shin-Hanul No. 2 nuclear reactor began six months of test operations this month to go into full service next March, according to the state-run nuclear power agency Monday.
The 1.4 gigawatt reactor in the coastal county of Uljin, some 215 kilometers southeast of Seoul, was loaded with fuel, and testing was started last week, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) said.
If the test run goes without a hitch, the reactor is expected to be put into full operation around March as the country's 28th nuclear reactor, it added.
The government completed its construction in April last year, and the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission gave final approval for its operation earlier this month.
The new reactor was built using APR1400 technology, which is the country's next-generation reactor model that boasts a larger capacity, a longer lifespan, and cost-effectiveness, according to the KHNP.
In December 2022, Korea began the commercial operation of the Shin-Hanul No. 1 nuclear reactor.
Preparatory work to build the Shin-Hanul Nos. 3 and 4 units is underway, awaiting final construction approval from the nuclear agency, according to the industry ministry.
The Yoon Suk Yeol government reversed the nuclear phase-out plan of the preceding government and is pushing to raise the country's dependence on nuclear energy to better manage electricity demand and to nurture the sector as a major export growth engine. (Yonhap)
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