The construction of Shin-Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant No. 1 and No. 2 in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, was completed Monday, making them the nation’s 23rd and 24th nuclear reactors.

The two plants will generate a combined 15.8 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, which would currently account for 3 percent of the country’s power generation.

“We believe that the plants will drive the low-carbon energy-generation trend and preemptive measures against environmental issues,” said a spokesman for Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, the operator of the plants.

The plan to build the Shin-Wolsong nuclear power plants was conceived in 2000. In 2005, the Gyeongju site was selected and the groundwork started in 2007. The construction of No.1 was completed in 2012 and No. 2 wrapped up in July this year.

The two plants are the last models based on the Korean original OPR1000 design. The nuclear reactors to be built after this will be based on the third-generation ARP1400 design scheme.

The creation of Shin-Wolsong No. 1 and No. 2 cost 5.3 trillion won ($4.58 billion) and created many jobs for the project. The state-run KHNP expects the facility to add 1.7 trillion won to the state coffers during its planned 30 years of operation.

An opening ceremony was held on the day with Energy Minister Yoon Sang-jick, Gyeongju Mayor Choi Yang-shik and about 1,000 Gyeongju residents present at the site. KHNP CEO Cho Seok vowed cooperation with the local community in future operations.

By Bae Ji-sook(baejisook@heraldcorp.com)