Conference to discuss security of nuclear materials, reduction of HEU use


Korea will host its biggest-ever international conference on nuclear power March 23-24 in conjunction with the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit to be held three days later.

More than 200 chief executives of nuclear power companies and representatives of related international organizations are expected to attend the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Industry Summit to discuss the role of the nuclear industry in enhancing nuclear security and safety.

Fifty-five heads of state and four leaders of international organizations including the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency are to take part in the second summit on nuclear terrorism, following the 2010 summit in Washington, D.C.

The Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co., which will oversee the industry summit to be held at the Seoul Grand Intercontinental Hotel, expects the conference to help raise the safety of nuclear facilities and restore confidence in the nuclear industry in the post-Fukushima era.

An organizing committee for the summit was formed in July with Kim Jong-shin, chief executive of KHNP, as the chairman. Committee members including academics, researchers and industrial experts held a kick-off meeting in August and sent out invitations to nuclear-related institutions in more than 50 countries in October.

Industrial leaders had held a conference on the role of the private sector in security of nuclear materials in April 2010 in conjunction with the first Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.

At the Nuclear Industry Summit next month, discussions will be focused on substantial ways to enhance the safety of nuclear energy especially after the earthquake that hit eastern Japan last year.

Three working groups have been organized on the reduction of the use of highly enriched uranium, security of sensitive information related to nuclear energy, and the connection between nuclear security and the safety of nuclear energy.

HEU is used to produce atomic reactors for research purposes and isotopes for medical purposes. It is important to prevent the diversion of HEU for use in nuclear arms production.

The first working group will seek ways to expand the use of low-enriched uranium in production of medical isotopes and reactors for research.

The second working group will discuss steps to prevent the collection of information or technologies aimed at using nuclear materials for malicious purposes. They would include measurement and detection of nuclear materials, border control to detect nuclear materials, transport security and information security.

The third working group will talk about an integrated understanding and management of nuclear security and safety of nuclear energy after the Fukushima incident.

Based on the discussions by the three working groups, an agreement will be adopted at the Nuclear Industry Summit to be officially proposed to the Nuclear Security Summit.

The KHNP has been striving to improve the safety of nuclear power plants after the Fukushima incident.

The company plans to invest 1.1 trillion won over the next five years to make improvements on 50 points, including extending the sea walls to 10 meters high around the Gori nuclear power station to minimize the possibility of flooding.

Waterproof doors will be installed in all facilities within the power stations to prevent flooding and drainage pumps will be made waterproof so they can work even when waterlogged. Each nuclear power station is already equipped with an emergency power generator that can be transported by vehicle, and emergency storage batteries are placed on top floors in case of flooding.

The KHNP also plans to install facilities that remove hydrogen and run without electricity to prevent hydrogen explosions, as well as exhaust and compression facilities to keep the pressure in the containment vessel from rising.

By Kim So-hyun (sophie@heraldcorp.com)