Korean experience on the development and deployment of nuclear power plants

The primary objective of the Republic of Korea's energy policy has been to secure an economical and stable supply of energy by diversifying energy sources. At present, environment-friendly energy policies have gained ground due largely to a progress in climate change convention negotiations. The impact of the two oil crises in the 1970s on the Korean economy was severe. In response, the government tried to limit the annual increase in energy consumption to about 7∼8%. By the 1990s, however, consumption was growing at more than 10% annually. The total primary energy consumption increased from 12.0 million TOE in 1965 to 233.4 million TOE in 2006. Due to the scarcity of indigenous energy resources, the Republic of Korea is heavily dependent upon imported energy. The overseas energy dependence continuously rises from 47.5% in 1970 to 96.5% in 2006. As in many other countries that are not endowed with fossil fuel reserves, nuclear power is considered to be the most reliable energy source capable of meeting the soaring energy demand necessary for economic development (i.e. an economic growth rate of some 10% per year). The Republic of Korea has consequently chosen nuclear power as one of its major energy sources