South Korea plans nuclear to meet demand

SEOUL, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- South Korea is planning to build 31 new nuclear reactors and conventional thermal power plants.

The new reactors will be necessary to meet increasing demand, according to South Korea's Ministry of Knowledge and Economy.

Demand is expected to reach 500.1 billion kilowatt hours in 2022, up from 368.6 billion kilowatt hours in 2007, the Yonhap news agency reported.

Starting next year, $28.3 billion will be invested to increase the country's energy production infrastructure by 32.37 million kilowatts to more than 100 million kilowatts in 2022.

The government's plan calls for 12 new nuclear reactors, seven coal-fired and 11 liquefied natural gas-fired thermal power plants to be constructed in the next 14 years.