▣ KEPCO NF (KNF, CEO Choi Ik-soo) obtained licensing to “commercially load an HIPER16 into Hanul Units 5 and 6” as a result of deliberation by the 191st Nuclear Safety and Security Commission on the 22nd of last month. KNF shared its intention to commercially load the fuel into Hanul Unit 5 for the first time in August this year.

 

▣ HIPER16 (High Performance with Efficiency and Reliability was adopted as a national strategic task to secure the source technology for nuclear fuels and improve the safety of nuclear power plants. KNF and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power commenced technical development in September 2005 which was completed in August 2010. Following the loading of lead test assemblies (LTAs) into Hanul Unit 6 to conduct a performance test at the nuclear reactor, a license application was submitted for commercial loading of Hanul Units 5 & 6 in 2018.

 

▣ HIPER16 is a high-performance nuclear fuel that improved safety, including thermal and seismic performance, and lowered possible fuel damage. It is expected to raise the competitiveness of exporting nuclear power plants to foreign countries, such as the Czech Republic. HIPER16 will serve as the matrix of accident-tolerant fuels, a requirement for the green taxonomy of both the EU and Korea.

 

▣ CEO Choi said, “We anticipate that HIPER16, a high-performance nuclear fuel, will be the foundation for improving the safety of nuclear power plants and exporting them. KNF will carry forward the development of accident-tolerant fuels at the right time to make nuclear power plants serve as a clean energy source, to the best of our ability.”

[Photo] Advantages of HIPER16