N.Korean demand for reactors underlines energy woes

North Korea’s demand for light-water nuclear reactors, one of the deal-breakers in the six-party talks that ended in deadlock on Sunday, highlights North Korea’s desperate need for energy.

But energy experts said the most pressing need for North Korea is not to look at a future with light-water reactors, but to respond to its present needs of updating an inefficient grid and realising the full potential of its present capacity.

…”It’s like a vicious circle. Since they cannot produce enough power, they cannot dig much coal. With little coal available, they cannot produce more power,” said Byun Jun-yeon, KEDO project manager at KEPCO, South Korea’s power monopoly.

Reuters AlertNet