S. Korea Gori No.1 Reacotr Temporally Turned Off from Electrical Problem

By Park Sae-jin Posted : April 13, 2011, 13:24 Updated : April 13, 2011, 13:24
South Korea’s oldest nuclear power plant at Gori has gone offline due to an electrical malfunction, a state nuclear power company said Wednesday, amid growing controversy over the extension of its life.

The Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) said the No.1 Gori reactor was turned off Tuesday night after experiencing electricity problem supplied from outside the plant.

The company stressed there were no safety risks to the light-water reactor and no radiation leaks, but concern over old reactor’s problem after Japan nuclear plant disaster.

“A key electrical component that broke out down is in the process of being repaired and the incident has been reported to the state Nuclear Safety Commission,” the KHNP said and Yonhap news agency reported as quoting.

The 587,000-kilowatt Gori No. 1 unit is the oldest of 21 commercial reactors in the South Korea and started full-fledged commercial operations in April 1978.

After its life limit of 30 years, it was turned off in June 2007 but regained operation right again after the government gave its approval to start again with option of 10 years intermittence.



(아주경제 송지영 기자)

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