South Korea’s Nuclear Safety Agency to Develop SMR Regulations by 2026 to Boost Exports.

Seoul: South Korea's nuclear safety agency is set to "swiftly" develop safety regulations for small modular reactors (SMRs) by 2026, as stated by Lim Seung-cheol, the secretary general of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC). This initiative aims to bolster the country's nuclear power industry and enhance its export capabilities. According to Yonhap News Agency, Lim's comments follow the selection of a South Korean consortium, headed by the state-run Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power, as the preferred bidder for a nuclear power plant project in the Czech Republic. This project, if finalized, would mark South Korea's second export of nuclear reactors. Lim attributed the consortium's selection to its comprehensive plan to seek standard design approval from the NSSC for its new APR-1000 reactors, contingent on winning the project, valued at 24 trillion won (US$17.3 billion). The APR-1000 is an innovative model derived from South Korea's existing APR-1400 design. Czech nuclear safety authorities expres sed interest in the NSSC's plan to assess the design's safety, with the state-run nuclear power company expected to apply for standard design approval later this year. Lim emphasized South Korea's strength in delivering nuclear reactors on time and within budget using indigenous technologies, forecasting the nation's rise as a global leader in the nuclear sector. To further strengthen the local nuclear power industry and its exports, the NSSC plans to establish safety regulations for the innovative-SMR, or i-SMR, by 2026. This would potentially allow for standard design approval of the new SMR model by 2028 and its commercialization by 2035. Lim likened the relationship between the nuclear safety agency and the nuclear power industry to that of "left foot and right foot," stressing the need for harmony and mutual respect for the ecosystem to prosper. SMRs, with a power capacity of up to 300 Megawatts per unit, have gained international attention amid rising electricity demand driven by artificial intelligen ce advancements and the need for non-fossil fuel energy to combat climate change. In response, the NSSC established a regulatory research management agency for SMRs earlier this year to refine the regulation system for the i-SMR and light water SMRs, while the government formed a special team for technology development in 2023. Additionally, the agency is engaged in the International Atomic Energy Agency's initiative to create a global framework for regulatory reviews of advanced reactors, aiming to expedite SMR deployment through standardization. Lim highlighted that while each nation's nuclear safety agency must review SMR safety, the international initiative would streamline the process by enhancing communication between agencies. Lim also advocated for a consistent energy policy to support the nuclear power industry and facilitate the development of a "swift" and "effective" regulation system, emphasizing that nuclear energy complements rather than replaces renewable energy sources.