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Wed, April 21, 2021 | 04:13
Gov't to sue LS over faulty reactor cables
정부, JS전선에 손해배상청구 고려
Posted : 2013-10-17 17:44
Updated : 2013-10-17 17:44
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Delay in nuclear plants to cost W2 tril.

By Choi Kyong-ae

Koo Cha-yolLS Group Chairman

Koo Cha-yol
LS Group Chairman

The state-run Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) is considering pursuing a major damages suit against JS Cable, an affiliate of LS Group, a major electronics-equipment conglomerate, for supplying faulty parts for use in nuclear power stations.

"We have already filed for a provisional attachment of assets held by JS Cable and "are considering filing for damages as well," a KHNP official told The Korea Times, Thursday.

The official's remarks came after the government announced Wednesday that the construction of two new reactors wouldn't be completed on time because hundreds of kilometers of cables supplied by JS proved to be faulty and must be replaced.

The Korea Times calculated that a six-month delay in the construction could cost taxpayers up to 2 trillion won ($1.9 billion).

This calculation is based on figures provided by the Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) if the 2.8 million kilowatts from the two reactors were produced by LNG-fueled plants.

The KHNP official said the faulty cable from JS Cable will likely be replaced with U.S. imports for now.

The company said that it is watching closely for any new developments.

JS Cable is the sister firm of LS Corp. and LS Cable & System, which were responsible for the closing of three of the country's 23 nuclear power stations in May when the corruption scandal first erupted. Three more are offline due to maintenance or other reasons.

Last week, public prosecutors indicted 100 suppliers and officials on corruption charges after they found that the three firms had colluded with corporate and government officials to supply substandard cable products which connected the central controlling unit with other core equipment.

Meanwhile, the delay in construction may have an impact on years-long dispute between KEPCO and civic groups over the construction of high-voltage transmission pylons.

The power lines, if completed in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, would connect to the state utility's new nuclear power plants in Gori, Busan. Civic groups argue that the towers could pose a health risk to local residents, who are demanding higher compensation.

On Oct. 2 when the state company resumed erecting the pylons, CEO Cho Hwan-eik said that any further delay would be unacceptable because the power lines need to be in place in order to avoid the sort of power shortages the country suffered this summer. KEPCO started the work in mid-2008 but has suffered repeated delays due to protests from local residents.

"Even if the new reactors come online later than scheduled, we will go ahead with the erection," said a KEPCO spokesman.

The latest scandal, combined with other safety issues, is said to have influenced the government decision to reduce the country's reliance on nuclear power to 22-29 percent by 2035 from the current 41 percent.

The latest energy master plan, the first under the incumbent government, has ditched new reactor construction plans that were strongly pursued by the previous government.

Instead, the administration decided to increase the use of renewable energy, a global trend that has gathered momentum following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.


정부, JS전선에 손해배상청구 고려

신고리3.4호기 6개월 지연에 2조원 더 소요될 것

국내 원자력발전소 운영을 책임지고 있는 한국수력원자력(이하 한수원) 은 기준 미달인 케이블을 공급한 JS전선에 대해 손해배상 청구를 고려하고 있다고 목요일 밝혔다.

“이미 JS전선에 대해 재산 가압류 신청을 마쳤고 향후 손해배상청구를 할지 검토 중입니다,” 라고 한수원 대변인은 코리아타임스와의 전화통화에서 밝혔다.

발전용량이 140만 킬로와트(kilowatt)인 신고리 3.4호기의 가동이 6개월간 지연되면 약 2조원에 달하는 추가비용이 발생하게 될 것으로 추정된다.

우라늄을 이용한 발전비용이 저렴한 반면 훨씬 비싼 액화천연가스(LNG)를 이용한 발전소를 통해 부족한 전기를 생산할 경우 비용이 더 많이 발생하기 때문이다.

국내 에너지수요의 약 3분의 1을 감당하는 23기의 원자로 중에 현재 6기의 가동이 멈춰 있다. 3기는 보수 및 기타이유로 가동중단상태이고 나머지 3기는 올해 초 터진 원전부품비리로 인해 케이블교체 및 검사이유로 5월이후 가동하지 않고 있다.

이에 더해 수요일 정부는 향후 2년에 걸쳐 건설을 마치고 가동을 시작할 예정이던 신고리3.4호기에도 불량케이블이 JS전선에 의해 납품되었다는 것을 밝혔다.

파장은 크다. 당장 내년 여름 전력수급에 비상이 걸렸다. 이번 여름에 부족한 발전량으로 인해 제한수급으로 전국민이 어려움을 한차례 겪었고 신고리3호기가 내년 초에 가동되면 수급에 숨통이 트일 것으로 기대했으나 지연이 불가피해 보이기 때문이다.

게다가 밀양송전탑건설의 명분이 약해졌다. 송전탑건설을 주관하는 한국전력공사(KEPCO)는 지연이 되더라도 신고리원전 2기는 지어질 것이니 송전탑은 어차피 필요하다는 입장이다. 신고리 3.4호기 준공을 전제로 송전탑건설이 진행중이었다.

수년째 건설을 반대하는 밀양주민들은 보다 높은 보상금을 요구하고 송전탑으로 인해 집값이 떨어질 것을 우려하고 시민단체들은 주민건강에 위협이 될 수 있다고 주장하고 있다.
Emailcka@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter









 
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