The Liquidation of LWR Project and Its Implications

  • 2007-08-21
  • 416
 The total amount of national treasury bonds allocated for Light Water Reactor (LWR), the Project of KEDO by Korean government, is around 6 billion dollars. Although LWR Project was terminated in May 2006 after spending 1.4 billion dollars, there are many critical issues which require thoughtful discussions. For example, North Korean nuclear problem still remains. And, it is uncertain when LWR Project resumes. In addition, future expenditures for LWR Project or similar projects will continue to strain national financial resources. The expenditure for LWR Project reaches 1.4 billion dollars including 438 million dollars for interests, while benefits from the LWR Project can be estimated as 1.4 billion dollars only. Among benefits, 1.2 billion dollars of income come from Korea Electric Power Corporation and other companies which participate in the project, and from 250 to 370 million dollars come from KEDO payback as well as acquisitions of political, economic, social, and scientific capitals from LWR project. Thus, it is necessary to have a comprehensive re-examination regarding the appropriateness of the project, the probability of success, and the proportion of resource allocations based on rational and pragmatic perspectives