South Korea to Speed Up Nuclear Restart Amid Middle East Crisis

South Korea will speed up the restart of nuclear reactors undergoing maintenance to secure energy amid the ongoing war in the Middle East.Author of the article:You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.(Bloomberg) — South Korea will speed up the restart of nuclear reactors undergoing maintenance to secure energy amid the ongoing war in the Middle East.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.The nation will seek to start two units this month, and a further four by mid-May, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said in a statement after an emergency meeting on Wednesday. The government will also consider flexible operation of coal-fired plants, generation from which is currently limited during weekdays to minimize pollution, if liquefied natural gas deliveries are affected.South Korea gets almost all its electricity from nuclear, natural gas and coal and, like other nations in the region, is heavily dependent on imports for the fossil fuels. The Asian country last year imported about 14% of its LNG from Qatar, which has had to stop production from the world’s largest production plant after an Iranian drone attack last week. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.“Although international oil and natural gas prices surged due to the Middle East situation, the direct impact on electricity charges remains limited for now as there’s a time lag before fuel costs are reflected in the power market,” the ministry said. “If high oil prices persist or LNG imports face disruptions, the power market will be inevitably affected.”The authority met with firms including state-owned utility Korea Electric Power Corp., nuclear power operator Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. and Korea Gas Corp. South Korea currently has 15 nuclear units in operation, according to the statement. It will seek to restart Shin Wolsong 1 and Kori 2 this month, and Hanbit 6, Hanul 3, Wolsong 2 and Wolsong 3 by mid-May.Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4© 2026 Financial Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited.This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.You can manage saved articles in your account.and save up to 100 articles!You can manage your saved articles in your account and clicking the X located at the bottom right of the article.