Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) posted a net loss in five years last year due to the operational suspension of nuclear power plants.
According to a report released by KHNP to Rep. Kwak Dae-hoon of the Liberty Korea Party, KHNP posted a net loss of 102 billion won (based on consolidation) last year. The KHNP analyzed that the reason is that the cost of extra operations increased by 74.2 billion won owing to the drifting business of new nuclear power plants.
This is the first time that KHNP has made a net loss on an annual basis since 2013 (-188.3 billion won). KHNP's net profit increased to 1.44 trillion won in 2014, 2.457 trillion won in 2015, and 2.472 trillion won in 2016, before falling below the level of 1 trillion won in 2017.
Meanwhile, KHNP applied to the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission last month for permission to change operations for permanent shutdown of Wolseong plant Unit 1.
KHNP spent some 600 billion won to replace old facilities of Wolseong Unit 1 to extend its lifespan to 2022, but it will have to be dismantled once permanent suspension is decided.
Rep. Kwak Dae-hoon pointed out that KHNP, a financially healthy company that made billions of won in net profit, has been shifted to a bad company after the government changed its energy policy stance.