Korea Hydro aims to restart Gori units 3 and 4 in first half of next year

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power is pushing to restart Gori units 3 and 4 in the first half of next year.

Gori units 3 and 4 each have an electrical output capacity of 1,025 MW. They began commercial operation in September 1985 and April 1986, respectively, and are currently offline after their 40-year operating licenses expired in September 2024 and August 2025.

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power said Tuesday, after receiving approval for the continued operation of the two units, that it aims to restart them sequentially in the first half of 2027 once ongoing equipment upgrades and maintenance are completed and safety is confirmed through regulatory inspections.

The company added that it plans to enhance the safety and performance of the plants through continuous equipment improvements and rigorous safety management throughout the extended operating period.

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission approved the operating license amendments for the continued operation of Gori units 3 and 4 that day. Under the approvals, unit 3 will operate through September 2034 and unit 4 through August 2035.

The approval marks the fourth time a nuclear power plant that has reached the end of its design life has been cleared for continued operation in South Korea, following Gori unit 1 in 2008, Wolseong unit 1 in 2015, and Gori unit 2 in 2025. It is also the second such approval granted under the current administration.

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power submitted a safety assessment report for the continued operation in September 2022 and filed the license amendment application in November of the following year.

"Continued operation will help meet the growing electricity demand from advanced industries such as semiconductors and AI, support stable power supply, contribute to the national economy, and play an important role in carbon neutrality," Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power President Kim Hoe-cheon said. "We will carry out all follow-up procedures without delay and do our utmost to safely restart Gori units 3 and 4 with safety as our top priority."