Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Electrical Energy in Korea Revisited

In a previous post, I reported on an electrical blackout that occurred in Korea last summer, and hypothesized that electricity usage patterns may be changing in Korea. 

In spite of the fact that the summertime demand for electrical energy is increasing in Korea, the demand for electrical energy remains highest in winter, and meeting the demand for electricity remains a major concern for the Korean government and utility companies. 

Much of Korea's electrical energy is produced using nuclear reactors.  Recently, minor incidents have occurred at two of Korea's nuclear reactors, one located just outside of Busan.  The incidents, though minor, resulted in short term generation stoppages.  In some news articles, it was reported that the service life of the Gori reactor, the one located near Busan, has already been extended beyond its projected 30-year life span.  Some residents of the area in which the reactor is located fear that it may be unsafe, and are lobbying the government to shut down the reactor.

Meanwhile, another reactor, this one further north, is nearing the end of its service life.  The company operating this reactor wants to extend its service life as well, and again some citizens are against it

It is projected that 8 more reactors will reach the end of their service life by 2030.  It therefore seems to me that Korea is in urgent need of investments in electrical generation capacity.  Making the matter all the more urgent is the fact that a shortage of electricity, should one occur during the winter, could prove deadly given how cold the weather can be in Korea between November and March.

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