Nuke plants found with fake papers

Korean regulators said yesterday they have identified two more nuclear power plants that used parts with forged test certificates.

A source at the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission said the two reactors are under construction, and the findings won’t immediately affect current power supply, which is already short due to the lack of nuclear power supply. Seoul last month warned of power shortages and rolling blackouts due to the closure of two reactors and the extended shutdown of a third to replace parts supplied using fake documents. The move will crimp power supplies and likely lead to more imports of natural gas to generate electricity.

Local news network YTN said earlier yesterday that the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission had identified cabling parts in two additional reactors that used forged test certificates.

Another source at Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power said construction of one plant will be completed by the end of the year and the other by September 2014. Last week, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission announced that substandard control cables were used at the four reactors - Singori reactors 1 and 2 and Sinwolseong reactors 1 and 2. Reuters