SKorea initiates decommission of country's 1st commercial nuclear reactor

South Korea has started the decontamination process ahead of decommissioning the country's first commercial nuclear reactor, Kori-1, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported on Tuesday, citing the country's Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP).

The chemical decontamination is the first step in the reactor's decommissioning, the news agency wrote, adding that KHNP will need the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission's approval for the reactor's complete dismantling.

During the process to remove radioactive materials from the reactor, the company will use indigenous technologies and equipment, which could enable South Korea to advance in the global market for nuclear decommissioning technologies in the future, the news agency said.

"The successful dismantlement of a power plant carries significance in the industry ecosystem. The Kori-1 reactor project is expected to serve as a chance to boost the competitiveness of the industry," a KHNP official was quoted as saying.

There is no information yet on how long it will take to decommission Kori-1 due to some issues with the construction of spent nuclear fuel storage facilities, although normally the process takes from seven to eight years.

The Kori nuclear power plant is located in the southeastern city of Busan. Its first unit was in service for around 40 years, from 1978 until it was permanently closed in June 2017.