KF뉴스레터-‘Korea’s Nuclear Energy Industry Is <br>a Model for Poland’s Program’

‘Korea’s Nuclear Energy Industry Is <br>a Model for Poland’s Program’

Korea’s advanced technology in nuclear energy generation has been steadily gaining worldwide recognition. Maciej Jurkowski, vice president of the Polish National Atomic Energy Agency (NAEA), looks forward to the development of cooperative relations with Korea in order to move ahead with Poland’s nuclear energy program, which includes plans to construct new nuclear power plants.

What aspects of Korea have you been impressed with?
This is my second visit to Korea. I previously visited in 1998 to attend a conference on nuclear reactors. Although only a little more than 10 years have passed by, I was surprised to see that so many changes have taken place in Korea during this period. From the number of cars packing the wide expressways and the heavy traffic in downtown Seoul, along the airport’s state-of-the-art facilities, all of these things have been amazing to me.

In terms of Korea’s nuclear energy industry, what organizations might contribute to the development of Poland’s nuclear program?
I was able to visit the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) and Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). As an atomic-energy engineer, it was a very valuable experience for me to visit the two institutes that oversee the technical aspects, operations, and safety of Korea’s nuclear power industry. Currently, Poland is gearing up to build our nation’s first nuclear power plant. As for Korea, and its world-class technology in nuclear power generation, it would be an ideal partner for Poland to develop cooperative relations. Therefore, I expect that the contacts I make from visiting these institutes will be of great help to promote Korea-Poland cooperation on technology and safety issues for the development of nuclear power generation.

How would you describe the current status of Poland’s nuclear energy program and its future prospects?
Poland has a longer history of nuclear reactor technology than you might think. We actually built our first nuclear reactor in the 1950s. Following the completion of several nuclear reactors for the purpose of research, Poland commenced its first nuclear power generation program in the 1980s, but this program hit a snag following the Chernobyl nuclear plant incident in the former Soviet Union.
For a long time thereafter, Poland’s plans to build nuclear power plants remained on hold, until quite recently, when the government decided to resume the program. Due to suspension of the construction of nuclear power plants, Poland had become heavily dependent on coal for the generation of its electricity. However, at a time when the world has become increasingly concerned about environmental issues, there are growing numbers of people in Poland who oppose continued use of the fossil fuels that contribute to the greenhouse effect. The time has come for us to adjust the proportion of our energy sources, for the sake of our environment. As a result, attempts are being made to generate power through wind and nuclear energy.

What benefits can be derived from Korea-Poland cooperation for the development of nuclear energy?
Today, there are few people who might question the fact that Korea possesses the world’s top-level technology in the field of nuclear power generation. Korea’s abundance of experience in operating nuclear power plants is also a valuable asset, together with its technological edge. Considering all these aspects, Korea’s expertise in nuclear power generation is especially well-suited to the nuclear power plants that Poland plans to build in the future. I believe that the technological capability and experience of Korea can contribute greatly to the development of Poland’s nuclear energy technology.

Do you have any concerns about potential risks to the environment due to the operation of nuclear energy plants?
Not only as the representative of a government agency responsible for radiation and nuclear safety, but also as an individual scholar who has conducted extensive research on nuclear energy, I am confident that atomic energy can be safely used to generate electric power. I understand that many people remain fearful of the use of nuclear power, following such a disastrous accident as the Chernobyl incident. However, it is also an undeniable fact that today’s nuclear reactors are far superior, in terms of safety and technology. As a matter of fact, the light-water nuclear reactors, PWR or BWR types, mostly used in the world and heavy-water nuclear reactors(PHWR) currently in operation in a number of countries are completely different from the reactor that caused the Chernobyl disaster.
As for today’s modern nuclear reactors based on PWR and BWR technology, not a single accident has been reported that involved the loss of human life or caused serious environmental damage. For example, a well-known incident occurred at the Three Mile Island PWR nuclear power plant in the United States in 1979. Despite a meltdown of the plant’s reactor, the most serious failure for a core nuclear facility, no radiation leakage or human casualties were reported. Given its 50-year-long history, I think that power generation with the use of atomic energy has proven to be very safe.

What efforts are being undertaken to assure that proper safety measures are enforced at nuclear energy facilities?
Safety measures for the operation and maintenance of nuclear power plants are being continuously developed, just as rapidly as the development of new technology. This is one of the reasons why I remain so confident about the future of nuclear power generation. Technologies and regulations related to the safety of nuclear power plants are being further strengthened as time goes by. Nuclear reactors are safe when they are properly designed, constructed, and maintained. It goes without saying that rigorous oversight is required for all processes and procedures of their operation. Therefore, most countries designate independent agencies(called nuclear regulatory authorities) to monitor and guarantee the safety of nuclear power plants. Only when all these conditions are fully satisfied, can you assure the safety of nuclear power generation.

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‘Korea’s Nuclear Energy Industry Is <br>a Model for Poland’s Program’

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