The South Korean government is launching a public discussion process to determine the role of nuclear power in the 12th Basic Power Supply Plan. With anticipated increases in electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence (AI), data centers, and the semiconductor industry, the government aims to gather public opinions on the appropriate role of nuclear energy and the necessity for additional nuclear plants, considering factors such as carbon neutrality, economic viability, and safety.
On the morning of October 2, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment held an inauguration ceremony for the 'Public Discussion Committee for the Basic Power Supply Plan' at the Han River Flood Control Center in Seoul.
This committee was formed following the 'Nuclear Power Public Discussion Promotion Plan' reported to the Cabinet meeting on September 22. The committee will establish the basic direction and detailed procedures for the public discussion, collecting a wide range of public opinions and subsequently recommending the results to the government.
Professor Eun Jae-ho from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies will chair the committee. He is an expert in conflict management, having served as the president of the Korean Conflict Studies Association and held various roles in conflict management committees across multiple government departments.
The committee consists of nine members, including the chair. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment appointed eight members based on recommendations from organizations in the humanities, social sciences, science and technology, statistics, conflict management, and energy sectors, ensuring they are not stakeholders in nuclear power.
Experts in the nuclear field will not participate directly in the public discussion committee but will join a separate expert committee. This expert committee will provide specialized information on nuclear power and electricity supply, enabling citizens to engage in informed discussions and learning.
The public discussion committee plans to form a representative citizen participation group and produce materials necessary for learning and deliberation. It will gather public opinions through various methods, including deliberative discussions among citizens, public forums, and online feedback, ultimately deriving results from the public discussion.
Key issues in this public discussion are expected to include whether additional nuclear plants are needed beyond those included in the 11th Basic Power Supply Plan and the appropriate scale of such plants. With rising electricity demand anticipated from advanced industries like AI, data centers, and semiconductors, determining how to meet this demand will be a major focus of the 12th Basic Power Supply Plan.
The previously confirmed 11th Basic Power Supply Plan includes two new large nuclear reactors and one small modular reactor (SMR) demonstration project, both targeted for introduction between 2037 and 2038. The upcoming public discussion will likely address the roles of nuclear power and renewable energy in light of future electricity demand and carbon neutrality goals.
Economic viability, safety, stable electricity supply, and carbon reduction will also be significant considerations. There is particular interest in how the recommendations from the public discussion committee will be reflected in the 12th Basic Power Supply Plan, especially in determining the composition of energy sources based on long-term electricity demand forecasts and grid conditions.
Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment Kim Sung-hwan stated, "I will actively support the independent activities of the public discussion committee and urge that the process be managed fairly so that citizens can deliberate on various factors, including carbon neutrality, economic viability, and safety, based on sufficient information."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.