New nuclear plant construction expected to be dropped under Lee gov't

President Lee Jae Myung reaffirmed support for the renewable energy industry and questioned proposals to use nuclear energy for powering data centers dedicated to artificial intelligence, implying that his government will not build additional nuclear reactors on Korean soil. He also dismissed concerns from industry insiders and academics that the environment ministry's proposed oversight of energy policies could result in stricter regulations instead of promoting the sector's growth. "It takes at least 15 years to build a nuclear plant, and Korea now lacks sites for new facilities except for one location that had been designated long ago," Lee said Thursday during a press conference marking 100 days since the launch of his administration. Regarding the use of small modular reactors (SMRs), he perceived development of relevant technologies as still immature. "The fastest way to boost electricity supply is through solar or wind power generation," Lee said. "Since renewables are the only viable solution, we will focus on developing this sector." Lee's comments came a day after Environment MiWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times