UAE조사단 한국원전 안전성 조사 중
아랍에미리트(UAE)에서 급파된 조사단이 최근 한국에 입국해 한국형 원전의 안전성에 대한 조사를 벌이고 있는 것으로 확인됐다. 우리나라는 현재 4기의 한국형 원전을 UAE에 건설하고 있고 내년으로 예정된 추가입찰에도 참가할 예정이다.
UAE의 안전성 조사는 최근의 한수원의 미검증 원전부품사용 사건으로 인해 현지에서 한국형 원전에 대한 불안감이 증폭되면서이다. 현재 조사단은 한국원자력안전기술원의 협조를 얻어 조사를 진행하고 있는 것으로 알려졌다.
UAE 현지보도에 따르면 조사단은 UAE의 Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation 소속 직원들이다. 원자력안전기술원은 약 2주전에 조사단이 입국했다고 말했다.
전문가들은 조사단 파견은 UAE가 본 사태를 매우 심각하게 바라보고 있다는 것을 의미한다고 말한다. 조사결과에 따라서는 내년에 있을 추가입찰 뿐 아니라 현재 진행중인 원전공사에도 영향을 줄 수 있을 것이라 조심스럽게 전망하고 있다.
한편 이명박 대통령이 아랍에미리트(UAE)에서의 원전 추가 수주 활동에 나선다.
이 대통령은 18일부터 22일까지 닷새간 캄보디아 프놈펜에서 열리는 아세안(ASEAN)+3 정상회의ㆍ동아시아정상회의(EAS)에 참석하고, 아랍에미리트(UAE)를 방문한다고 청와대가 15일 밝혔다.
청와대에 따르면 이 대통령은 UAE 방문시 칼리파 빈 자이드 알 나흐얀 대통령과 정상회담을 통해 양국 간 원전 건설, 에너지, 경제ㆍ통상, 의료ㆍ보건, 과학기술 등 다양한 분야에서의 협력 확대 방안에 대해 협의한다.
이 대통령은 이어 모하메드 빈 자이드 알 나하얀 아부다비 왕세자와 함께 바라카 원전 1ㆍ2호기 착공식에 참석하고 아부다비 원전 건설의 원활한 진행과 향후 협력방안에 대해 논의할 계획이다.
2012-11-16 17:29
UAE doubtful about Korean reactors
Team here after a series of incidents in nuclear plants
By Park Si-soo
Korea’s nuclear reactors have been under scrutiny from an inspection team dispatched by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government following a series of nuclear incidents, including one related to the use of uncertified parts.
This is a clear sign that the UAE increasingly feels uneasy as it watches the government’s investigation into manufacturers of parts supplied to nuclear reactors here for nearly a decade using forged quality certificates.
Depending on the outcome of the inspection, this case will tarnish the country’s reputation and will have a negative impact on the government’s move to export nuclear reactors. In the worst case scenario, it could affect nuclear reactors under construction there.
The Middle East country recently dispatched an inspection team to Korea to check and monitor related information on the ground. A nuclear power plant housing four reactors is under construction in the UAE by the state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), which is at the center of the incidents.
A group of inspectors from the UAE’s Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) is visiting Seoul with the duty of conducting a planned inspection, according to news reports from media outlets in the UAE and its neighboring countries. The Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) confirmed their arrival in Seoul two weeks ago but didn’t offer any detailed information.
Experts said UAE inspectors’ presence here indicates increasing doubt over the quality of Korean nuclear facilities and the scandal, in the worst case scenario, could cost Korea an opportunity to export more reactors to the oil-rich Middle East nation.
President Lee Myung-bak has touted nuclear reactors as the new star in the country’s vaunted export lineup. Lee is scheduled to visit the UAE later this month to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues, including one related to additional exports of nuclear reactors, with UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The UAE plans to select a provider of four additional nuclear reactors next year.
“The FANR has been closely tracking developments in Korea since the news broke. It currently has an inspection team in Korea that is conducting a planned quality inspection,” spokeswoman Fatema Al Ansari was quoted as saying by UAE media. “They (inspectors) have been able to question KEPCO and gather preliminary information on the issue.”
The official said the team has sought clarification from its Korean counterpart. An initial assessment by the UAE team suggested minimal impact on the safety of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant that KEPCO is constructing, according to a report.
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, the nuclear arm of KEPCO, has come under fire for its use of uncertified parts in reactors since 2003. The incident has forced two reactors to be put offline until early January as engineers replace nearly 8,000 non-core parts including fuses, cooling fans and power switches, threatening the nation with an “unprecedented” power shortage just as it enters winter. KINS and the prosecution are independently conducting investigation into nine producers of the parts.
Nuclear engineering professor Whang Joo-ho at Kyung Hee University said it seems to be true that the parts supplied on forged documentation have “no direct link to the safety of the reactors” and they fundamentally remain good enough.
Yet Whang added the incident has already “tarnished Korea’s reputation as nuclear reactor manufacturer, which could have serious repercussions.
“Plants are not the only things KEPCO exports. It also markets operation and management systems and other solutions and technology related to reactors,” he said. “One of the core tasks of the management system is to monitor the quality of the parts, whether you call them essential or non-essential. The latest incident doesn’t inspire confidence that what KEPCO is offering is good enough.’’
회원에게만 댓글 작성 권한이 있습니다.