Name: Ulchin-4 Nuclear Power Reactor (울진 원자력발전소 4호기)
Location: Puguri, Puk-myŏn, Ulchin-kun, North Kyŏngsang Province, South Korea
Address: 84-4 Puguri, Puk-myŏn, Ulchin-kun, North Kyŏngsang Province, 767-701, South Korea
Telephone Number: +82-54-785-2114
Subordinate to: Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. (한국수력원자력주)
Size: 1,000MW(e) pressurized light water reactor (PWR)
Primary Function: Production of electricity
Description: Ulchin-4 is South Korea’s 14th nuclear power plant. Construction for Ulchin-4 began in May 1992 and the reactor began commercial operations in August 1998. Ulchin-4 was constructed under the third phase of South Korea’s nuclear power program that called for self-reliance in nuclear technology. Under this phase, South Korea planned to standardize the design of nuclear power plants and achieve technological self-sufficiency. In order to meet these goals, the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) concluded a ten-year technology transfer agreement with ABB-CE in 1987. Beginning with the construction of Yŏnggwang-3 in December 1989, KEPCO used Korean firms as primary contractors for the provision of major equipment and engineering services. Foreign firms serving as subcontractors were selected through competitive bidding and required a technology transfer agreement as part of the contract.
Ulchin-4 is a two-loop light water Korean Standard Nuclear Power Plant (KSNP). It is the twin unit of Ulchin-3 and was constructed under the same contractual scheme. In April 2002 Ulchin-4 experienced a rupture in the steam generator tube and this prompted public fear and concern over nuclear safety. As a result, Korean lawmakers drafted new legislation allowing the public to obtain access to information regarding nuclear accidents.
Key sources: Ministry of Science and Technology, <http://www.most.go.kr>; Ministry of Science and Technology, Wŏnjaryŏk Anjŏnbaeksŏ (Seoul: MOST, 2003); Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP),“ Hansuwŏn Paljŏnsohyŏnghwang,” <http://www.khnp.co.kr/korea_map/korea.html>; Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), “Hŏesa Soge,” <http://www.khnp.co.kr/company/company_c.html>; Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), “Ulchin Wŏnjaryŏ Ponbu,” <http://www.khnp.co.kr/ulchin/index.jsp>; Regis A. Matzie and Ki In Han, “The Evolutionary Development of Advanced Reactors,” The Uranium Institute Twenty Third Annual International Symposium 1998, World Nuclear Association Symposium Proceedings, <http://www.world-nuclear.org/sym/1998/matzie.htm>; “Most of Ulchin-3 and -4 to Be Made Domestically,” Nuclear News, September 1991, p. 78, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Mark Hibbs, “Reporting of Ulchin-4 Tube Break Prompted Draft Nuclear Data Law,” Nucleonics Week, 8 May 2003, p. 1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; David Stellfox, “ABB-C-E Wins Korean Contract for Two More System-80 PWRs,” Nucleonics Week, 25 July 1991, p. 1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
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Updated September 2004 |
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