The first fuel loading has been completed for South Korea’s Shin-Hanul-2 nuclear power plant, owner Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Company (KHNP) said.
The indigenous 1,340-MW APR-1400 pressurised water reactor recently received an operating permit from the South Korean nuclear regulator paving the way for the milestone operation.
KHNP said fuel loading was completed on 18 September. It took eight days to insert 241 fuel assemblies in the reactor core of the unit.
The company said commercial operation is expected to begin after about six months of tests and trial runs. Reactor system performance and safety parameters will be assessed under normal operating temperature and pressure levels.