ed New power supply plan

Building more nuclear reactors needs careful approach

The government has decided to construct two additional nuclear reactors by 2029 at a cost of 7 trillion won under its seventh long-term power supply plan. Instead, it has withdrawn a proposal to build four coal-fired power plants under its sixth long-term plan in 2013.

The new energy plan is a step in the right direction, given that it is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions to meet the global carbon reduction goals set by the United Nations. It’s also positive that the government raised the ratio of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power in our energy mix.

But the proposal to build the new reactors leaves a lot of things to ponder.

The long-term energy plan, which covers the period between 2015 and 2029, is based on the assumption that the country’s overall consumption of electricity will increase at an annual average rate of 2.2 percent until 2029. This projection appears rational, considering that the 2.2 percent rise is lower than 2.5 percent envisaged under the sixth plan and the government’s annual economic growth forecast of 3.06 percent.

Even so, this might be too high, taking into account that last year’s power consumption rose a meager 0.6 percent. Also, there is a strong need to reflect our low-growth trend in the long-term energy plan. Some critics even claim that the government’s projection of the minimum power reserve at 22 percent is inflated. To sum up, the government may have overblown its estimates regarding future energy demand, to build more nuclear reactors.

One has to wonder if energy policymakers have forgotten all the fears about the “nuclear disaster’’ that gripped the world following the meltdown at Japan’s Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in 2011. We remember that the energy ministry didn’t even mention the construction of new nuclear reactors in its sixth plan, overwhelmed by the post-Fukushima anti-nuclear sentiment.

What’s really important in building the new reactors is persuading residents. In late 2011, Samcheok, Gangwon Province, and Yeongdeok, North Gyeongsang Province, were chosen as possible locations for nuclear power plants, following applications under consent from their respective local councils.

In an unofficial referendum last year, nearly 85 percent of residents in Samcheok rejected the central government’s plan to build a nuclear plant in their neighborhood. Residents in Yeongdeok also launched a committee to oversee a referendum as soon as the government announced the seventh energy plan Monday.

All this explains why the government should be more prudent in pushing for more reactors. Building more nuclear power plants might be unavoidable, given the nation’s long-term energy supply and demand structure. But the government’s unilateral push will only prompt a strong backlash from residents and environmental groups. What’s needed first is to listen to them carefully.

The country now has 23 reactors in operation and 13 planned for construction, including the two announced Monday. Now it might be time to consider reducing our heavy dependence on nuclear power ― albeit slowly.