The so-called 'Energy 3 Laws' aimed at securing power supply for advanced industries passed the Legislation Committee of the National Assembly on the 26th. The laws support the expansion of the national power grid to ensure timely supply of energy necessary for strategic industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), which require large-scale power. Given that both the ruling and opposition parties have agreed to process this despite the extreme political conflict following the emergency martial law, it is set to advance to the National Assembly's plenary session on the 27th.
The Legislation Committee held a full meeting that day and approved the so-called 'Energy 3 Laws,' which include ▲Special Act on the Expansion of the National Power Grid ▲High-level Radioactive Waste Management Special Act ▲Special Act to Promote the Use of Offshore Wind Power.
The Special Act on the Expansion of the National Power Grid simplifies the approval process for the installation of transmission lines for advanced industries such as AI. When establishing an implementation plan related to the national power grid, local government heads are required to collect residents' opinions and respond within '60 days,' with a provision that this period will be deemed completed if not met, aiming to prevent delays in projects during the public opinion collection process.
The High-level Radioactive Waste Management Special Act provides for the establishment of permanent disposal facilities for 'spent nuclear fuel' generated during the operation of nuclear power plants. It mandates the construction of interim storage facilities by 2050 and permanent disposal facilities by 2060. Until now, high-risk nuclear waste has been stored in temporary facilities due to insufficient legal provisions. This marks the first discussion in the National Assembly since it began nine years ago in 2016.
The Offshore Wind Power Special Act is a law that simplifies the approval process for wind power projects. To expand offshore wind power in response to the climate crisis, it omits the 'environmental impact assessment' and reduces the approval process. In particular, it includes a special provision to waive the preliminary feasibility study if necessary within wind power development zones to expedite project implementation.