Challenges in Introducing and Implementing Small and Medium Sized Reactor (SMRs) in Thailand
Saensuk Wetchgarun, PhD
Reactor Center, Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (Public Organization)
Technical Meeting on Challenges in the Application of the Design Safety Requirements for Nuclear Power Plants to Small and Medium Sized Reactor
Sept 4-8, 2017, Vienna, Austria
Outline
• Thailand on the map
• Electricity consumption
• Country nuclear related organizations
• Nuclear history in Thailand
• Current status of nuclear power in the country
• Challenges in introducing and implementing Small
and Medium Sized Reactor (SMRs) in Thailand
• Remarks
Thailand on the map
Figure from: http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/th.htm Figure from: http://pattayavillaholidays.com/images/thailand-map-2.gif
Thailand on the map
• Located at the center of
Peninsular South East Asia
sharing the boarder with
Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia,
and Malaysia.
• Country total area is
approximately 513,000 km2
Figure from: http://pattayavillaholidays.com/images/thailand-map-2.gif
Thailand on the map• It is about 1260 km from
the northernmost to the
southernmost points and
approximately 780 km
between the westernmost
to the easthernmost points.
• Population: ~68M (2016),
with almost 10 million are
in the capital city area,
Bangkok.Figure from: http://pattayavillaholidays.com/images/thailand-map-2.gif
Share of power generation by fuel
Natural Gas 66%
Coal/Lignite 21%
Oil 1%
Hydro 3%
Import 7%Others 2% TOTAL 180,945 GWH
2014
� 20% of natural gas consumption: imported from Myanmar and imported LNG
� Energy security issue: supply and cost
� National policy to reduce natural gas dependency by utilizing alternative
energy sources
Source: Energy statistic of Thailand 2015 [3];
Thailand’s nuclear power plant feasibility study [1]
Nuclear history in ThailandNuclear Non-Power Program
1960 The cabinet ordered the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) to
arrange the reactor building construction
1962 The construction finished. The reactor core was installed and named
“Thai Research Reactor-1 (TRR-1)”. It was reached criticality for the
first time on Oct 27, 1962.
1977 The reactor core was replaced by a new TRIGA MARK-III type. The
reactor was renamed “Thai Research Reactor -1/ Modification 1
(TRR-1/M1).
1993 The government approved for the construction of the new nuclear
research center in Nakhon Nayok province.
Nuclear history in ThailandNuclear Non-Power Program
2009 The Instrumentation and Control Upgrade Project for TRR-1/M1 was
initiated due to ageing concern of the reactor I&C system.
2013 A new research reactor (30-45 kW) under SUT BNCT project
proposed by a domestic university was approved. Currently, this
project is in the preparing stage for the site license.
2017 TRR-1/M1 I&C upgrade project was completed.
Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology proposed a new
multipurpose research reactor project. Currently, it has been in the
feasibility study stage.
SUT: Suranaree University of Technology
Nuclear history in ThailandNuclear Power Program
1966 EGAT proposed NPP project
1967 Government appointed the Nuclear Sub-Committee to conduct
feasibility study and site selection
1970 Government approved Ao Phai in Chonburi Province as NPP site
1972 Government approved a 600 MWe BWR reactor for the project
1974 EGAT reserved nuclear fuel with Energy Research and Development
Administration (ERDA), USA
1976 EGAT proposed to call for bidding
1978 Government postponed the NPP project indefinitely after the
discovery of natural gas in the Gulf of Thailand
Nuclear history in ThailandNuclear Power Program
1982-1991 EGAT carried out site survey and selection
1993-1994 Parliament Energy Commission studied nuclear power generation
1992-1995 EGAT and NEWJEC Inc., Japan co-performed initial environmental
exam and site evaluation
1996 Cabinet appoint Committee to conduct study on economic and
infrastructure for NPP project
Current status of nuclear power program
Power Development Plan Planned nuclear power plant
PDP2007 4 units of 1,000 MWe in 2020 (2) and 2021 (2)
PDP2007 Rev2 2 units of 1,000 MWe in 2020 and 2021
PDP2010 5 units of 1,000 MWe in 2020-2021, 2024-2025 and
2028
PDP2010 Rev2 4 units of 1,000 MWe in 2023-2024 and 2027-2028
PDP2010 Rev3 2 units of 1,000 Mwe in 2026 and 2027
PDP2015 2 units of 1,000 MWe (approximately 5% of power
generated) by 2036.
Power Development Plan (PDP) – a long term environmental friendly power expansion
plan to ensure electricity availability, affordability and security
Challenges in Introducing the first NPP
• National Position
– Political instability
– Government commitment
• Public understanding and acceptance
• Site survey challenges
• Laws and regulations for nuclear power
• Human resource developmentSource: Thailand’s nuclear power plant feasibility study [1]; Status of Nuclear Power Development in Thailland [2]
Public understanding and acceptance
Preliminary Opinion survey results
Questionnaires were sent to target groups by region,
and by occupation throughout the country
Nuclear Power Plant
Development inAgree Disagree Not specified
Thailand 64 32 4
Their provinces 32 59 9
Their communitites 24 66 10
Source: Thailand’s nuclear power plant feasibility study [1]
Difficulties in accessing some potential sites due to
local community opposition caused by
• Bad experience on past industrial development projects
– Pollution, Corruption, Unfair Compensation
• Concerns on public safety (radiation leak and past nuclear
accidents), possible contamination on agricultural and
fishing products, and possible decrease in number of tourists
– Lack of basic understanding on radiation and nuclear
power
Site survey challenges
Source: Status of Nuclear Power Development in Thailland [2]
Laws and regulations for nuclear power
• Nuclear Energy for Peace Act B.E.2559 (2016):
newly issued on Aug. 1, 2016
Not yet issued,
In preparation
Issued in Aug 2016
Human resource development
• Regulatory body
– Competent and experience in licensing, analyzing
and regulating NPP
• Technical support organization
– Competent and technical knowledge of NPP and
related systems
• Operator organization
– Competent, operating experience and safety culture
Challenges in Introducing/Implementing SMRs
Similar challenges as those encountered when
introducing the first conventional NPP can be expected.
Moreover, additional challenges or concerns that may
arise as introducing SMRs for the first NPP of the
country instead of the conventional NPP are:
• Public acceptance question
– Is the technology proven safe?
Challenges in Introducing/Implementing SMRs
• Technical issues
– Licensability
• What should be the licensing process for SMRs?
• Limited regulatory experienced from well developed
nuclear power country on licensing SMRs,
• Does existing Law and regulation can be applied to SMRs?
Challenges in Introducing/Implementing SMRs
• Technical issues
– Safety assessment
• How to evaluate the SMRs safety functions?
• How to choose/evaluate the credible accidents for SMRs?
– Operating staff requirements
• How many operating staffs required to operate SMRs?
• Are there any specific knowledge/skills the operating staff
needed to be trained?
Challenges in Introducing/Implementing SMRs
• Technical issues
– Operating and maintenance experience
• As most innovative SMRs are able to operate with longer
fuel cycle than the conventional power reactor, e.g., they
are designed to operate ranging from several years up to
30 years for one fuel cycle, how to prove the reliability of
the system?
• With a very long fuel cycle, how maintenance of the
support systems should be performed while the reactor is
in operation?
Challenges in Introducing/Implementing SMRs
• Technical issues
– Emergency preparedness and accident management
• As innovative SMRs have relatively new design concept,
emergency preparedness, emergency response, and
accident management may be differ from the
conventional NPPs. This issue needed to be clarify since it
is one major concern for the public.
Remarks
• Even though Thailand has been utilized nuclear
energy in various applications and have had
experience for safe operation of research reactor for
decades, introducing nuclear power for electricity
generation in the country still poses big challenges.
• Introducing and implementing SMRs for power
generation is more challenges as the technology shall
be proven safe.
Remarks
• The licensablitiy, safety assessment, operating staff
requirements, operating/maintenance experience aswell as emergency preparedness and accident
management for SMRs, which is possibly different
from the conventional NPPs, are needed to be clearly
evaluated.
• Those issues could be big challenges for Thailand for
regulatory body, technical support organization, andoperating organization.
References
1. Apisit Patchimpattapong, Thailand’s nuclear power plant
feasibility study, Thai Professionals Conference (TPC2010),
Jun, 2010.
2. Kamol Takabut, Status of Nuclear Power Development in
Thailand, Lunch Talk, Thai French Technical Association, Aug,
2010.
3. Energy Statistics of Thailand 2015, The energy Policy andPlanning Office (EPPO), Ministry of Energy, Thailand.