Seoul: The state-run Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) has announced plans to expand the capacity of its nuclear power plants to the highest level in 15 years, in a strategic move to address the growing demand for electricity and to potentially reduce electricity rates, as revealed by the climate ministry on Tuesday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the KHNP outlined its strategy during a policy briefing to the climate ministry, stating its intent to elevate the nuclear plants' capacity factor to 89 percent this year. This marks an increase of 4.4 percentage points from the 84.6 percent recorded in 2025. The target set for 2026 represents the highest capacity factor since 2011, when the utilization rate was at 90.7 percent.
The KHNP emphasized that nuclear power could play a pivotal role as a supplementary source to renewable energy, which often faces intermittency issues. This, in turn, would help ensure a stable electricity supply amid the surging demand from sectors such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors. Additionally, the company noted that nuclear energy could contribute to lowering electricity rates.
In its operational plans, KHNP intends to resume the Kori-2 nuclear reactor's operations in March, following the nuclear safety watchdog's recent approval of a 10-year life extension for the reactor. The company also expressed intentions to pursue lifespan extensions for other nuclear reactors.
On the subject of constructing new nuclear plants, the climate ministry mentioned it will be conducting a public opinion survey this week to gauge public sentiment on the matter.
In a related development to reduce costs and increase efficiency, the Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) is in the process of developing an "energy expressway" along the west coast, which will eventually extend across the nation. This project aims to establish high-voltage direct current (HVDC) infrastructure nationwide, which is a next-generation power technology designed to minimize inefficiencies in long-distance power transmission and aid in integrating renewable energy from diverse sources.