Buan-gun Nuclear Waste Repository Virtually Withdrawn

The government decided to undergo a complete review of the plan to build a nuclear waste disposal facility on Wido, Buan-gun in North Jeolla province.

Thus, Buan-gun, which has been embroiled in a crisis since the submission of its local government’s application in July this year in an effort to induce the nuclear waste center, will have to face a new critical phase and the accusation towards policy makers for creating such confusion will be intensified.

“The government decided to receive additional applications from other local governments that wish to attract the facility, in case that Buan-gun residents oppose the construction of the facility in their city in the residents’ vote,” said Yoon Jin-sik, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MCIE).

Yoon made a formal apology, saying, “The government failed to reflect the opinions of local residents of Buan in the site selection process.”

The government decided to hold a residents’ vote early next year after discussing related matters with Buan-gun and withhold the Wido Special Support Bill and the Comprehensive Buan-gun Development Plan until the result of the vote is determined.

In addition, the government also plans to make an official announcement this month in a bid to receive alternative preliminary applications from January of next year from other local governments and notify the selected local government by the end of next September.

If the vote turns out that more voters support the establishment of the plant on Wido, Wido will become the region to establish this nuclear radioactive disposal plant.

To file an application, a local government has to collect signatures from over 50 percent of its local residents who support the nuclear facility, the head of the local government body has to submit a preliminary application, and then the local government has to hold open debates and a residents’ vote.

“I can not disclose the names of the region, but I can say there are one or two regions that are willing to submit applications,’’ Yoon added

In this regard, Lee Gwan-seop, a senior official of MCIE, elaborated that “the possible six candidates are Ulchin-gun and Yeongdeok-gun in North Kyongsang province, Gochang-gun in North Jeolla province, and Yeonggwang-gun in Soth Jelloa province, four of which were initially the candidate sites, and Jangheung-gun and Samchok in South Jeolla province, two of which had previously shown some interests in hosting the facility.”

Minister Yoon indicated that the scale of incentives for the host city will be reduced, saying, “Responding to the criticism that claims excessive incentives have been proposed to Buan-gun, we will adjust the scale of the support package in a reasonable manner.”

However, the direct economy stimulation plans, including the 300 billion proton accelerator complex development project, and relocation of headquarters of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Company will remain unchanged.

The government also decided to step up separate measures if the Buan residents oppose the establishment of the center in the vote and no additional preliminary application is lodged.

Eun-Woo Lee libra@donga.com