By Kim Tae-gyu
Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) broke ground for the decade-long nuclear power plant project in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this month, with completion planned for 2020.
Along with its partners including Hyundai Engineering & Construction and Samsung Construction & Trade, KEPCO will build a total of four nuclear reactors in the oil-rich Gulf country.
KEPCO says that its technological platform based on the Advanced Power Reactor (APR)-1400 is a cutting-edge option to secure safety. But it is thinking of taking additional measures following global concerns due to Japan’s nuclear disaster.
In the aftermath of devastating earthquakes and resulting tsunami the nuclear power station in Fukuyama was damaged, leading to the release of radioactive materials into the air and nearby seawater.
``Safety comes first in any nation when it comes to nuclear energy. Our APR-1400 is one of the safest reactors in the world, which was picked after competition with outfits from France and Japan,’’ KEPCO Senior Manager Kwak Yong-hak said.
``Equipped with multi-layer safety devices geared toward coping with such accidents as a meltdown or hydrogen explosion, the UAE facilities are designed to stand strong earthquakes or tsunami.’’
Hydrogen explosions took place at the Fukuyama station to cause leaks of airborne nuclear material. Worse, worries run high on the possible meltdown of spent fuel rods.
As concerns on nuclear safety surface even Korean President Lee Myung-bak stressed its significance during the ground-breaking ceremony on March 14.
Yet Lee also showed confidence in Korean techniques. Cheong Wa Dae quoted him as saying, ``I believe that Korea’s nuclear technology would be a good model for the Middle East.’’
On Lee’s previous visit to the UAE at the end of 2009 Korea signed the nation’s first contract on nuclear exports involving the APR-1400, developed and used here.
As the largest energy deal in the Middle East, the contract was worth $18.6 billion and its value could double through a follow-up operation deal to be inked separately after completion of the plants.
Thanks to multiple safety features KEPCO believes that its UAE facilities would not face the same problems as those in Japan.
``The Fukuyama power station successfully withstood the earthquakes. When the main power was damaged, the auxiliary power supply worked to keep cooling the reactors,’’ Kwak said.
``But the auxiliary supply was swept away by the tsunami to generate all the hydrogen explosions and meltdowns. By contrast, three more safety steps would be built into the UAE power station.’’
Kwak said that the emergency power supply system would be composed of two layers. If the first contingency generator breaks down, the alternative alternating currency (ACC) power generator will come on.
``Let’s say that electricity is not available at all under the worst-ever tsunami. But our APR-1400 system’s cooling mechanism will operate through self-generated power based on the steam without the help of electricity provided from the outside,’’ Kwak said.
``Then the hydrogen will not be created en masse. Let’s assume that the amount of hydrogen goes up anyhow. Our final resort is the igniter, which burns hydrogen little by little when its amount hits a set level.’’
KEPCO points out that the UAE reactors couldn’t suffer hydrogen explosions but is being cautious.
``If the facilities to be built in the UAE had been in Fukushima, we don’t think they would have leaked any radioactive materials. The reactors would have been eventually revived,’’ Kwak said.
``As far as safety is concerned, however, we cannot afford to be complacent. We plan to scrutinize ways to further increase the security of the UAE reactors in the future.’’
KEPCO is not currently considering drastically changing the designs and layouts of the UAE power station, which will be built in the Braka region, around 270 kilometers west of Abu Dhabi.
But it is ready to follow international guidelines in case the world comes up with a fresh framework on the construction and operation of nuclear facilities after examining the Japanese disaster.
``In the wake of the Chernobyl and Three Mile Island accidents, the world beefed up security measures through in-depth analysis to be applied to all nuclear systems across the world,’’ Kwak said.
``Similar procedures are expected to take place after the Fukushima case. Then we would follow the new guidelines in building the UAE power station.’’
Considered as the worst nuclear power plant accident in history, the Chernobyl disaster occurred in April 1986 in Ukraine to claim many lives. It is the only incident categorized as level seven on the International Nuclear Event Scale.
A nuclear power plant on Three Mile Island in the U.S. suffered a partial core nuclear meltdown in 1979. Radioactive matter flowed into the nearby river.