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Shinhanul Unit 1, a nuclear power plant built in Uljin, Gyeongsangbuk-do, was approved for operation after 8 months of deliberation. It is expected to go into operation as early as March next year, but before that, there are stringent conditions to prove safety.



Reporter Ahn Young-in reports.



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Shinhanul Units 1 and 2 in Uljin, Gyeongsangbuk-do, which cost over 9 trillion won.



Unit 1 was completed in April of last year, and the finishing work for Unit 2 is in progress.



In the meantime, it has been pointed out that a huge loss of 1.1 billion won a day is accumulated as the operation is delayed due to the safety controversy associated with the government's nuclear-free policy.



Last month, even Prime Minister Kim Bu-gyeom expressed the opinion that the problem of silencing the completion of the nuclear power plant should be quickly resolved, and yesterday, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission approved the operation of Shin-Hanul Unit 1 after eight months of deliberation.



Instead, four strict conditions were imposed, and the key was to secure the safety of the hydrogen removal device PAR.



PAR is a device that prevents explosion by removing hydrogen generated inside the nuclear reactor containment building in case of emergency.



However, there have been claims that the hydrogen removal rate is low and that a spark may occur if it comes into contact with water.



The NSSC ordered that the PAR performance of Shin-Hanul Unit 1 be retested to prove its safety.



He also instructed them to submit measures to reduce the risk of aircraft crashes.



[Lee Byung-ryeong/Member of the Nuclear Safety Committee: The permit was granted due to a strict policy, but the permit was granted under the strict condition that the safety problem should be completely solved.] The



final safety analysis report must be submitted before the start date of commercial operation, which is expected in March of next year

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KHNP estimated that Shin-Hanul Unit 1 would generate about 23% of the annual electricity consumption in the Gyeongbuk region.



In the first half of next year, we plan to apply for the operating license for Shin-Hanul Unit 2 as well.



(Video coverage: Shin Kyung-dong TBC, video editing: Jung Yong-hwa)