The Kori Unit 2 nuclear reactor in South Korea has been granted a 10-year extension to its operational life by the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC), moving its expiry from April 2023 to April 2033. Commissioners approved the extension during their 224th plenary session on November 13, 2025, after two earlier meetings failed to reach a decision. The reactor is of the pressurised-water type with 685 MW capacity, and began commercial operation in April 1983. Since the reactor had already been shut down when its original licence expired, the practical remaining operating period after approval will be somewhat less than the full 10 years. To resume operation, the plant operator Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) must complete facility upgrades and pass on-site inspection by the NSSC. The decision is seen as a precedent for similar extensions of other ageing reactors in South Korea, as KHNP has applications in with the NSSC for several other units whose operating licences expire before 2030. In its statement, the NSSC said the reactor “maintains sufficient safety margins” and meets required safety and environmental standards for continued operation. Please let me know if you’d like a deeper dive into the review process, safety criteria, or how this fits into South Korea’s broader energy strategy.     (ICE SEOUL)

Fonte notizia: THE CHOSUN Daily