[Edaily Reporter Shin Ha-yeon] Nuclear power-related stocks are showing a collective surge in early trading. This is believed to be driven by the selection of candidate sites for new nuclear power plant construction, which has boosted investor sentiment.
According to MP Doctor on the 18th, as of 9:13 a.m. today, #Seojeon Electric and #Hanshin Machinery are trading at their daily price limits. Seojeon Electric is trading at 6,720 won, up 29.98%, while Hanshin Machinery is trading at 3,805 won, up 29.86%.
At the same time, stocks grouped under the nuclear power sector—including #Gangwon Energy (13.50%), #KEPCO Industries (6.09%), #KEPCO Technology (5.91%), #EnerTalk (4.59%), #BHI (3.10%), and #Woori Technology (2.64%)—are all showing gains.
This is interpreted as a sign that investor sentiment has spread across the entire nuclear power sector, driven by heightened expectations for the construction of both large-scale nuclear power plants and small modular reactors (SMRs) following the selection of candidate sites for new nuclear power plants.
Yesterday afternoon, the New Nuclear Power Plant Site Selection Evaluation Committee announced that, based on the evaluation of candidate sites for the construction of new nuclear power plants reflected in the 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, it had selected Yeongdeok County as a candidate site for two large-scale nuclear reactors and Gijang County as a candidate site for one SMR.
KHNP will apply to designate the selected candidate sites as “planned power development zones” under the Power Development Promotion Act and will finalize the sites after completing follow-up procedures, including environmental impact assessments, consultations with relevant agencies, and obtaining construction permits.
In particular, since the SMR is scheduled to receive standard design approval by 2028, the pace of technological development and the outcome of the licensing process are expected to determine the actual start of construction and commissioning dates.
According to the 11th Basic Plan for Electricity, large-scale nuclear power plants are scheduled to complete the necessary permits and approvals for construction by 2029, begin construction, and be completed by 2037–2038. Similarly, once the site for the SMR is finalized, the plan is to obtain a construction permit by the early 2030s and begin operations in 2035.