The role of nuclear power in the development of industry and manpower

Advanced countries have indigenously developed nuclear power technology on the basis of already well established industry and manpower. However, analysis shows that the nuclear developing countries develop these domestic industries and manpower by embarking on nuclear power projects. The paper emphasizes the importance of nuclear power for the development of industry and manpower, citing the experience gained in the Republic of Korea as an example. In the Republic of Korea, there are now six PWRs (two of 600 MW(e) and four of 950 MW(e)) and one PHWR (600 MW(e)) in operation that account for over one-half of the total electricity generated. Two PWRs (950 MW(e)) are under construction, while two more PWRs (950 MW(e)) are in the design stage. Three 600 MW(e) NPPs were constructed on a turnkey basis in the early 1970s, while 950 MW(e) projects were implemented on a non-turnkey basis in the late 1970s, through which domestic participation has much increased, mainly in the fields of architect engineering and equipment manufacturing. Construction technologies for heavy components and sophisticated welding technologies learned via these projects have much contributed to an improvement of the technology of the construction and shipbuilding industries. In particular, quality assurance and quality control concepts from nuclear power projects improved the quality level of domestic industries. However, it has been realized that software technologies including nuclear steam supply system designs are hard to acquire without indigenous research and development efforts. In this respect, measures for integration of the nuclear industry and manpower have been recently taken so as to create close links between the research institutes and the related nuclear industry, and to maintain critical manpower in each of the designated fields, through which self-reliance in nuclear power technology can be effectively achieved. (author). 2 refs, 3 tabs