Key facts
- The NSSC approved a 10-year lifespan extension for Kori units 3 and 4.
- Kori-3 will operate until September 2034.
- Kori-4 will operate until August 2035.
- The reactors had stopped generation after 40 years of commercial use.
South Korea's nuclear watchdog approved a 10-year operational lifespan extension for the Kori units 3 and 4 nuclear reactors on Tuesday. The decision by the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) came four years after Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP), the state-run power operator, requested the agency review the restart of the reactors. The two pressurized water reactors, each with a gross capacity of 1,025 megawatts, had stopped power generation after 40 years of commercial use that began in 1985 and 1986, respectively. The NSSC had previously approved a 10-year extension for the Kori-2 reactor last year. The commission also approved the accident management program for Kori-3 and Kori-4 earlier this month.