S. Korea to build 12 nuclear reactors by 2022

SEOUL, Dec. 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to build 12 new nuclear reactors and
increase green energy output to meet domestic demand and help cut back on
greenhouse gas emissions, the government said Friday.
The plan reflects annual demand forecasts for the next 14 years and the need to
join global efforts to stop global warming, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy
said.
Domestic power demand is expected to rise an average 2.1 percent every year from
2008 to 2022 to reach 500.1 billion kilowatt hour, up from 368.6 billion kilowatt
hour last year.
The measures will increase South Korea's atomic energy output from 35.5 percent
of the total power produced in 2007 to 47.9 percent in the target year.
Of the 12 reactors, eight are under construction or have been approved with four
new units to be included in the building plan.
The plan also aims to bolster green, reusable energy output from 1.1 percent of
total electricity production to 4.7 percent.
The ministry said that if the goals are met, the country will be able to cut
greenhouse gas output by 24 percent while increasing energy generation by 16
percent.
Reducing greenhouse gases is expected to take on greater importance as Seoul
comes under pressure to join other industrialized countries who have pledged to
actively fight global warming.
South Korea is currently not obliged to cut greenhouse gases as a Non-Annex 1
member of the Kyoto Protocol.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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