Korean nuclear fuel program

In Korea, sixteen PWRs and four PHWRs are in operation, and eight more PWRs are to be built by the year 2015. Sixteen operating PWRs comprise of eight Westinghouse type plants and eight Optimized Power Reactors. Korea Nuclear Fuel Company is designing, manufacturing and supplying nuclear fuel for all operating PWRs and PHWRs in Korea since 1989. It has performed reactor core design and safety analysis for more than 16 initial cores and 130 reload cores as of the end of 2004. It has been manufacturing PWR fuel with the annual production of 400 ton-U as well as PHWR fuel with the annual production of 400 ton-U. Korea Nuclear Fuel Company launched a 'Mid- and Long-term Nuclear Fuel Development Program' in 1999. It has completed the development of PLUS7TM fuel in 2002, which is an advanced fuel for the fuel for the Optimized Power Reactors and the Advanced Power Reactors. Region application of PLUS7TM is scheduled to begin in 2006. It has also completed the development of both 16ACE7TM and 17ACE7TM fuel in 2004, which are advanced fuel for the 2-loop and 3-loop Westinghouse type plants. Region Application of 16ACE7TM and 17ACE7TM is planed to start in 2008 and in 2009, respectively. To be more competitive than ever and to become one of global fuel technology leaders, KNFC launched 'Green Vision 2015 Projects' in the year 2005. (author)