South Korea to restart two nuclear reactors

Will ease fears of power shortages in August.

The Nuclear Safety & Security Commission said that it has approved the restart of a 700 MW reactor in Wolsong, about 280 km from Seoul, and a 650 MW reactor in Kori, about 320 km southeast of Seoul. The reactors were shut down for regularly scheduled maintenance.

The reactors will take two or three days to operate at full capacity, said Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co Ltd, subsidiary of state-run Korea Electric Power Corporation that runs the nuclear industry.

Of South Korea’s total 23 nuclear reactors, six will remain offline, including three units halted after parts were supplied using fake certificates in May.

South Korea is heavily dependent on oil, gas and coal imports, and nuclear power generates a third of its power.