South Korea is considering extending the continued-operation period for existing nuclear plants to 20 years from the current 10-year term and accelerating 15 national backbone power-grid projects worth 14.2 trillion won ($10.3 billion). The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment plans to discuss the extensions with the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, which has approval authority. The review reflects rising electricity demand from semiconductor plants and artificial-intelligence data centers. Nuclear-related stocks also rebounded on expectations that U.S. nuclear expansion will generate equipment and construction orders. KEPCO Engineering & Construction closed at 108,600 won, up 20.27%, on the session reported on the 26th, while Hyundai Engineering & Construction rose 14.39%, Doosan Enerbility gained 9.86% and KEPCO KPS advanced 4.64%. Earlier intraday data reported on the 25th showed KEPCO E&C at 100,000 won, Hyundai E&C at 115,700 won and Doosan Enerbility at 75,900 won. The U.S. Department of Energy's $17.5 billion nuclear supply-chain loan program allows long-lead equipment to be ordered before a final investment decision, or formal project approval, potentially bringing operator selections and orders as early as the second half of the year. South Korea's revised forecasts put 2040 peak power demand at 158.4 gigawatts in one baseline scenario, up 20.2% from 131.8 GW, while another government forecast cited 165 GW. Three major AI data-center and semiconductor projects are estimated to require 28.5 GW more generating capacity than previously forecast.