Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power has reached a significant milestone as Shin-Hanul Unit 2, located in Uljin, Gyeongsangbuk-do, achieved critical mass at 7 am on the 6th. The attainment of criticality signifies the readiness of the nuclear reactor for constant nuclear fission reactions, paving the way for electricity production testing. Scheduled to commence power generation on the 20th, the unit is set to undergo comprehensive testing at each output stage before entering full-scale commercial operation in the first half of the coming year.
With a substantial facility capacity of 1.4 gigawatts, Shin-Hanul Unit 2 is recognized as Korea’s 28th nuclear power plant. Notably, alongside Shinhanul Unit 1, it stands as a testament to technological independence by domestically producing key components, including the reactor coolant pump and nuclear power plant measurement and control system. Unit 1 entered commercial operation in December last year, and Unit 2, having received an operating permit from the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission on September 7, has been progressing through fuel loading and high-temperature functional tests.
