Seoul, South Korea (CNN)One of the world's most fossil fuel-dependent economies, South Korea has nuclear power. Energy is accepting again, with the government's announcement on Tuesday, to resume construction of two reactors and extend the life of already operating reactors.
By 2030, the Department of Energy wants nuclear power to account for at least 30% of the country's electricity generation. This is a step up from our previous goal of 27%.
To address this, South Korea is resuming construction of two new reactors at the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant on the east coast. Construction of two reactors has stagnated since 2017, when former President Moon Jae-in worked hard to phase out nuclear energy.
However, with the appointment of the new president, South Korea's nuclear industry is returning at full speed.
Yun Suk-yul, who took office in May, criticized her attitude towards nuclear power on the moon and expressed her support for her flag-state industry through her campaign.
"The over-promotion of nuclear power has devastated our world's best nuclear technology," Yun said in a February Facebook post before the election, "nuclear power plants.
The work of the new nuclear power plant is following "the best decision-making procedure of the Yun administration", the Ministry of Energy said on Tuesday, investigating how to dispose of "high-level radioactive waste". Then he added.
The Ministry of Energy said on Tuesday that it is continuing to work on the phasing out of coal, aiming to reduce fossil fuel imports to 60% of the country's total energy supply by 2030. .. Compared to 81.8% in 2021.
However, investment in nuclear power can come at the expense of other renewable energy efforts, and the ministry states that renewable targets will be "re-established." increase. No specific numbers for the new target are given.
"For optimal results, we need to determine specific proportions of different sources of energy, such as solar and wind (offshore) energy," the ministry said. "The use of zero-carbon power sources should take into account the technical context."
He added that a "realizable and rational energy mix" needs to be created.
During his presidency, Moon vowed to make the country carbon-neutral by 2050 and shift the energy balance from nuclear and fossil fuels to renewables and natural gas. His series of initiatives included promoting the production of renewable energy and the use of electric vehicles.
The use of nuclear power has been questioned around the world after the collapse of Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant after the 2011 catastrophic earthquake and tsunami. Some countries, including Germany, have promised to abolish nuclear power altogether.
But in South Korea, nuclear power has long been a big business. This country lacks natural resources and is heavily dependent on energy supplies from other countries.
According to the World Nuclear Association, 25 domestic nuclear power plants supply about one-third of South Korea's electricity demand.
The country is also a major exporter of nuclear technology to the world and is involved in the construction of the first nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates.