Licensing Trends for Construction of New Nuclear Plants

Currently in Korea, an SFR (Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor) technology proving stage reactor called PGSFR (Prototype Gen-IV SFR) is being developed by KAERI and KEPCO E and C to be constructed by 2028. After the accident of the Fukushima nuclear power plants, how to regulate and license newly developing nuclear reactors requiring higher safety goals has been issued. As a result, in leading nuclear nations developing new reactors, the close cooperation between the developer and the regulator is becoming very important. In this study, the licensing processes of leading nuclear countries were surveyed and compared with that of Korea, and a new licensing direction for PGSFR was suggested. Reviewing licensing processes for newly developing reactors of other countries, the first step of the licensing process is the pre-safety review, which is to review the reactor design. This process is not legally binding, but is a review process for a better understanding of newly applied technologies by regulators prior to starting the legally binding licensing process as the construction and operation licensing. This process provides an opportunity for the reactor developer to adopt the regulator's licensing direction and a goal to designing newly developing reactors to meet the safety requirements