The Sin-Kori Units 3 and 4 that first applied the model of the new Korean nuclear power plant called “APR1400” were completed 12 years after construction began.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) announced on Dec. 8 that they held a comprehensive ceremony for Sin-Kori Units 3 and 4 at the first power plant in Saeul, Ulsan on Dec. 6.
The project to build Sin-Kori Units 3 and 4 will cost 7.5 trillion won to build two new third-generation pressurized light-water reactors with a capacity of 1,400MW.
Construction began in September 2007 and completed the construction of the third reactor in December 2016 and the fourth one in August this year, respectively, and began commercial operations.
The Sin-Kori Units 3 and 4 adopted the APR1400, a new Korean-type nuclear power plant model, for the first time. It is the same type as the United Arab Emirates' Barakah nuclear power plant that South Korea exported for the first time.
APR1400 received EUR certification in October 2017 and also obtained design certification from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in August.
With the completion of Sin-Kori Units 3 and 4, South Korea has 24 nuclear power plants, except for the Kori-1 reactor that has been permanently shut down and Wolseong-1 reactor that is undergoing the shutdown process.
"Sin-Kori Units 3 and 4 have a history of developing new light-water reactors, which were started in 1992 with the aim of gaining technological independence," Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Sung Yun-mo said at the ceremony. "It is a reference power plant for exports of nuclear power plants to the United Arab Emirates, and it will be an opportunity for our nuclear power plants to receive good reviews in the global market."
