국내 고준위방사성폐기물 처분비용 평가에 관한 고찰

Abstract

The global operation of nuclear power plants has raised the issue of permanent disposal of spent nuclear fuel. In Korea, two types of power plants are operating, heavy water reactors and light water reactors, and discussions have been made steadily that spent nuclear fuel generated from them should be disposed of permanently. According to the Nuclear Environment Corporation's "Basic Plan for High Level Radioactive Waste Management," the site is planned to be selected for 12 years and the operation year of permanent disposal facilities is planned for 2053. Several methods are considered for permanent disposal of spent nuclear fuel, which is a high-level radioactive waste, such as disposal of the deep layer, disposal of the ocean, disposal of glaciers, and disposal of the deep-seated waste. Among them, the IAEA recommends that high-level waste be disposed of in the deep layer in consideration of economic feasibility and safety. For this reason, there has been much discussion in Korea about the disposal of the deep layer. Although South Korea started its first operation on July 13, 2015 to store medium and low-level waste, its policy on disposal of high-level radioactive waste sites and disposal facilities is still insufficient. As such, the issue of deep layer disposal of high-level radioactive waste is important, but the assessment of the costs incurred in the overall disposal process is also very important. As of 2018, the cost of treating spent nuclear fuel is expected to reach at least 64.13 trillion won directly to dispose of high-level radioactive waste generated from nuclear power plants, including 26.3565 trillion won (3.711 trillion won for construction, 22.3381 trillion won for operation), 37.7736 trillion won for permanent disposal facilities (6.9 trillion won for construction and 27.5649 trillion won for operation). Therefore, the estimated disposal costs were assessed using a computer program developed by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute based on overseas cases related to the assessment of disposal costs and the latest domestic 8th power supply plan.