Press Release

Doosan Enerbility is to soon embark on the decommissioning of the Kori Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1, the first commercial nuclear power plant built in Korea.

On November 4th, Doosan Enerbility announced that it had signed a contract with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHN) on performing nuclear decommissioning work on the Kori Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1’s Uncontrolled Area* internals and yard.  The signing ceremony, which was held that day at KHNP’s Radiation Health Institute, was attended by the related parties, including Seok-jin Cho, Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Nuclear Officer (CNO) of KHNP, and Jongdoo Kim, CEO of Doosan Enerbility’s Nuclear Business Group.
* The area outside the Controlled Area of a nuclear facility.

This is the first nuclear decommissioning work to be carried out after final approval was secured this past June for the planned decommissioning of Kori Unit 1.  The project holds significance as it signals the start of nuclear decommissioning projects in Korea. The Kori Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 was built in 1978 as Korea’s first commercial nuclear power plant. The plant was shut down permanently in 2017 and it is now close to eight years later that decommissioning of Kori Unit 1 is being pursued.

Doosan Enerbility, which is participating as the lead contractor of the project consortium, will be carrying out the project together with HJ Shipbuilding & Construction and KEPCO KPS over the years leading up to 2028.  The nuclear decommissioning of the uncontrolled area, where radiation levels do not exceed regulatory limits, will entail carrying out decommissioning work on the secondary circuit* equipment, such as turbines and piping, in consecutive phases.
* Secondary Circuit: Refers to the turbine and generator-related equipment that is used to produce electrical energy. The thermal energy generated from the primary circuit, which consists of the reactor, is converted by the secondary circuit into high-temperature, high-pressure steam, which is used to drive the turbine to produce electricity.

“We find it truly meaningful to have our company Doosan Enerbility take on Korea’s first nuclear decommissioning project here at Kori Unit 1,” said Jongdoo Kim, CEO of Doosan Enerbility’s Nuclear Business Group.  “By applying the decades of technological expertise and know-how that we have acquired over the years, we will do our utmost to ensure the successful execution of the project.”

Through this project win, Doosan Enerbility aims to solidify its position in the global nuclear decommissioning market, which is forecast to continuously grow.  According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the number of permanently shut-down nuclear reactors is expected to rise from 214 today to 588 by 2050.

▲ On Nov. 4, the related parties pose for a group photo at the signing ceremony for the “Kori Unit 1 Uncontrolled Area Internals & Yard Nuclear Decommissioning Project.” (From left to right) Chul-sang Chung, Senior Vice President of HJ Shipbuilding & Construction; Seok-jin Cho, Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Nuclear Officer of KHNP; Jongdoo Kim, CEO of Doosan Enerbility’s Nuclear Business Group; Ho-kwang Jeon, Vice President of KEPCO KPS.