South Korea’s Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) has approved a ten-year life extension that allows unit 1 of the Wolsong nuclear power plant to operate until 2022.
Wolsong 1 is a 678MW pressurised heavy water reactor, which began operation in 1982. The reactor was shut down in November 2012, when its operating licence expired.
Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power has welcomed NSSC’s decision to approve the continued operation of Wolsong 1 "even though it took a long time." KHNP filed its application for licence renewal in December 2009.
Since then, Wolsong 1 has undergone a strict safety inspection, completed post-Fukushima stress tests and boosted safety. Notably, KHNP has retubed the reactor, and installed additional mobile generators, a tritium removal facility that operates without power and a containment filtered vent system (CFVS).
KHNP is planning to resume operations at the reactor in April 2015, subject to approval from the regulator.
