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By Park Si-soo
The government said Monday it will add two more nuclear reactors to the national power grid by 2029 and scrap a plan to build four new fossil fuel plants as part of efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy recently drew up its 7th power supply plan for 2015 to 2029. It will review the plan with the Ministry of Environment and other related state bodies this month and then hold a mandatory public hearing before confirmation.
If the plan is endorsed, Korea will operate 36 nuclear reactors by 2029, up from current 23. The constriction of 11 reactors is underway.
But it remains to be seen whether the plan will get approval amid intensifying opposition from anti-nuclear politicians and activists.
"Nothing has been decided yet," the energy ministry said in a statement. "We are going to report it to the National Assembly. The plan will be finalized following a public hearing."
The location for the two reactors is still unknown, the ministry said, adding that it would decide whether to shut down Kori-1, the nation's oldest nuclear reactor whose lifespan was extended to 2017.
"Various locations are under consideration. But selection is never an easy job because of strong backlashes from people in affected areas," an official said.
The government believes running more nuclear reactors will help reduce the nation's greenhouse gas emissions, although it will fuel people's safety concerns, according to experts.
The Park Geun-hye administration aims to cut Korea's greenhouse gas emission by 30 percent by 2020.
Anti-nuclear activities oppose the move.
"The plan was drawn up without seeking any consultation with activists and experts at non-governmental organizations," Energy Justice Actions, an anti-nuclear civic group, said in a statement. "The ministry is only trying to finalize the plan without offering detailed parts of the plan."
