North Korea Light Water Reactor (LWR) Main Construction Starts next Month

Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), primary provider of North Korea Light Water Reactor (LWR), is known to have scheduled to start the foundation digging at the sites of Shinpo-Kumho, South Hamkyung in mid-September.

This is the first main construction for LWR, which was originally launched in August 1997 with site adjustment project. After 4 years, the project appears to be on schedule, despite the opposing voices in the US Republic party demanding for Geneva agreement revision and fossil fuel power plant construction.

On August 2, an Korean official said, ``North Korea had an expert meeting for the LWR construction permission with Korean Peninsular Energy Development Organization (KEDO) from July 24 for 3 days at Hyangsan, North Pyungan. At this meeting, preliminary safety analysis report (PSAR) and environment report (ER) were discussed. Foundation Digging is the first step to launch the main LWR construction. This is composed of digging the ground 30 meter below ground for 2 LWRs and to pound the concrete foundations on the bedrock.``

He also added, ``The foundation digging will be done by the end of this year. The LWR auxiliary equipments will be delivered and generation-related facility will be constructed from next year. Although the LWR construction is to be constructed by 2008, there are some issues, including NK inspection for Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) responsibilities, prior to the deliverance of core components (eg. Reactor and turbine).``

Currently, the employment in the LWR construction sites of Shinpo-Kumho is 1,131 (South Korea 682, Uzbekistan 331, North Korea 96, and others 22) but the number will increase once the construction takes place.

Meanwhile, KEDO is in the near completion of the constructions of lecture rooms, training rooms, setup rooms, and full-range simulator for educating NK personnel.

However, ever since the main contract became effective in March 2000, a training of 529 personnel, which is supposed to be given within the next 18 months in accordance with Training Protocol, is expected to be delayed because the technical discussions have not been finished between KEDO and NK.

spear@donga.com