South Korea to speed up nuclear restart amid Middle East crisis
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South Korea aims to start two nuclear reactors in March and another four by mid-May.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: UNSPLASH
SEOUL – South Korea will speed up the restart of nuclear reactors undergoing maintenance to secure energy amid the ongoing war in the Middle East.
The nation will seek to start two units in March, and a further four by mid-May, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said in a statement after an emergency meeting on March 11.
The government will also consider flexible operation of coal-fired plants, generation from which is currently limited during weekdays to minimise pollution, if liquefied natural gas (LNG) deliveries are affected.
South Korea gets almost all its electricity from nuclear, natural gas and coal and, like other nations in the region, is heavily dependent on imports for the fossil fuels.
The Asian country imported about 14 per cent of its LNG from Qatar in 2025, which has had to stop production from the world’s largest production plant after an Iranian drone attack last week.
“Although international oil and natural gas prices surged due to the Middle East situation, the direct impact on electricity charges remains limited for now as there’s a time lag before fuel costs are reflected in the power market,” the ministry said.
“If high oil prices persist or LNG imports face disruptions, the power market will be inevitably affected.”
The authority met firms, including state-owned utility Korea Electric Power, nuclear power operator Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and Korea Gas.
South Korea currently has 15 nuclear units in operation, according to the statement.
It will seek to restart Shin Wolsong 1 and Kori 2 in March, and Hanbit 6, Hanul 3, Wolsong 2 and Wolsong 3 by mid-May. BLOOMBERG
