Automatic Reactor Trip at Unit 3 of Shin-Kori Nuclear Power Plant During Commissioning

Unit 3 of the Shin-Kori nuclear power plant in Ulju, Ulsan, South Korea, is undergoing commissioning ahead of its planned commercial operation this year. The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) stated that it had received a report from Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) that the unit's reactor automatically tripped at approximately 20:56 on the 11th.

Unit 3 of the Shin-Kori plant received its operating license from the NSSC in December last year and is currently in the power ascension testing phase. KHNP reported that during the commissioning test, when reactor power reached 80%, the unit experienced a loss of power transmission, and the reactor subsequently tripped automatically.

The unit has been confirmed to remain in a safe shutdown condition, with no radiation-related anomalies detected on site.

The NSSC stated that its regional office is inspecting the on-site safety conditions and plans to dispatch an investigation team comprising experts from the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) to verify the cause of the event and the safety status of the facility.