South Korea nuclear issues, tower protests raise blackout risks

Reuters ^ | 09/09/2013 | Meeyoong Cho

[TexGrill]

(Reuters) - South Korea faces possible power blackouts this winter and next summer, as cable safety issues and protests that are holding up completion of an ultra-high-voltage power line threaten to keep more nuclear reactors offline.

Asia's fourth-largest economy generates a third of its electricity using nuclear power, primarily to replace oil and gas, for which South Korea relies almost entirely on imports.

But six of its 23 reactors are offline, including three shut since May to replace cables supplied with forged safety certificates. In addition, another reactor will soon be closed to check the welding on a steam generator.

South Korean prosecutors have arrested dozens of officials and parts makers on bribery and forgery charges in their investigation of the scandal over false documents. The cable issue has also delayed the start-up of two new reactors and could hold back a third, officials said.

"It will be more difficult (to meet power demand) next summer than it was this summer. It will be also hard this winter," said Baek Jae-hyeon, vice president of state-run utility Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO).

The government warned in May of "unprecedented" power shortages over the summer.

South Korea barely avoided blackouts between June and August as it curbed power use by 6,000 megawatts (MW) via a nationwide energy-saving campaign. Consumption was held to 74,000 MW, less than a forecast record-high demand of 80,000 MW that would have overtasked the summer supply capability of 78,110 MW.

[TexGrill]

Global business tip

[Nervous Tick]

>> replace cables supplied with forged safety certificates

Forged safety certificates seem sturdy enough. Better than die-cast safety certificates, for sure.

What are they shopping for? Safety certificates machined out of a single titanium billet? No wonder these nuke plants cost so damn much.

[thackney]

The project was approved by the government in November 2007 to link the Shin-Kori nuclear power plant in Ulsan to a substation in Changnyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, through a 765-kilovolt transmission line across 90.5 kilometers with 161 towers.

Of the 161 towers, 109 have been completed while consturction on 52 towers in the Miryang area has been delayed due to residents’ opposition.

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20130528000730