Industry

  • Mayor hopes to turn Seoul into solar city
    Mayor hopes to turn Seoul into 'solar' city The mayor of Seoul unveiled what appeared to be a costly project to turn Seoul into a "solar" city with a solar energy system built everywhere in homes and buildings for complete energy self-reliance. By 2020, Mayor Park Won-soon hopes to expand the use of solar energy and produce electricity equivalent to one nuclear power plant in the capital crowded with nearly 20 percent of South Korea's total population of 51 million. "We November 21, 2017
  • S. Koreas first offshore wind power farm makes debut on Jeju island
    S. Korea's first offshore wind power farm makes debut on Jeju island South Korea's first offshore wind power plant made its debut on the southern island of Jeju which has led a campaign to expand the use of renewable and eco-friendly energy in a country heavily dependent on imported fossil fuel. The offshore wind farm built by Korea South-East Power Co., a state utility company, is capable of generating 85,000 megawatts of electricity annually, enough to provide power to up to 24,000 households. The complex has ten wind power turbines erec November 17, 2017
  • State utility firm supports Northeast power grid project
    State utility firm supports Northeast power grid project The head of South Korea's utility company, KEPCO, supported President Moon Jae-in's initiative to set up a Northeast Asia power grid that would also encompass Japan, China and Russia. At the third Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on September 7, Moon called for the construction of a super grid through cooperation with Russia to enhance energy cooperation as part of his proposal to establish an economic community in Northeast Asia. Korea Electric Power Corp. November 2, 2017
  • KEPCO demands cautious but quick approach in buying into Toshiba
    KEPCO demands cautious but quick approach in buying into Toshiba An aerial view of South Korea's largest nuclear power complex near the southern port city of Busan. The head of Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), which produces home-made nuclear reactors, called for caution in buying into a nuclear power project involving Japan's Toshiba to build reactors in Britain as it requires state approval. Japan's Toshiba owns 60 percent of the joint venture named NuGen with the remainder controlled by French utility company Engie. Th November 2, 2017
  • Moon compromises nuclear policy but no mention on spent fuel
    Moon compromises nuclear policy but no mention on spent fuel President Moon Jae-in accepted public recommendations for the resumption of work on two unfished reactors while sticking to his "nuclear-exit" policy of phasing out nuclear power plants and replace them with natural gas and renewable energy. Construction near the southeastern port city of Busan would resume soon because Moon agreed to respect recommendations made by an independent state commission. "As the government has already October 23, 2017
  • Civic jury votes for continued construction of nuclear power plants
    Civic jury votes for continued construction of nuclear power plants By an undisputable margin, a civic jury supported the resumed construction of two unfinished reactors in South Korea, dealing a blow to President Moon Jae-in's "nuclear-exit" policy to phase out nuclear power and replace them with safe renewable energy. Construction of the two reactors, slated for completion in 2022 near the southeastern port city of Busan, would resume soon because Moon has promised to respect any recommendations made by an independen October 20, 2017
  • Energy minister proposes two-track approach in nuclear power
    Energy minister proposes two-track approach in nuclear power South Korea's energy minister proposed a two-track approach in nuclear power, saying the government would actively support exports of home-made reactors while pushing ahead with the gradual shutdown of nuclear power plants at home. The government's "nuclear-exit" policy is "totally different from exports of nuclear power plants", Paik Un-gyu, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, told a conference attended by companies involved in the n October 10, 2017
  • Public opinion split over proposed shutdown of two nuclear reactors
    Public opinion split over proposed shutdown of two nuclear reactors Public opinion has been split over President Moon Jae-in's proposal to stop the construction of two nuclear power reactors despite strong support from young voters concerned about safety and environment. On an order from Moon who has promised to replace old nuclear and coal-powered thermal power plants with clean and renewable energy sources, the cabinet decided on June 27 to stop the construction of two reactors, slated for completion in 2022 near the southeastern port ci September 22, 2017
  • Saudi nuclear project reignites S. Korean ambitions for reactor export
    Saudi nuclear project reignites S. Korean ambitions for reactor export Under President Moon Jae-in's clean energy policy, South Korea is reducing its heavy dependence on nuclear energy, but ambitions to export home-made reactors have never been abandoned. South Korea, which has almost no reserves of fossil fuels on its territory, has actively pushed for a nuclear energy program. A 2009 $20 billion contract to build four reactors in the United Arab Emirates paved the way for South Korea's first exports of reactors. Nuclear industry officia September 19, 2017
  • President Moon proposes energy cooperation community in Northeast Asia
    President Moon proposes energy cooperation community in Northeast Asia President Moon Jae-in proposed the creation of a far-reaching energy community in Northeast Asia through cooperation with Russia as ties between South Korea and China get soured by differences over how to tame North Korea. In his address to the third Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok, Moon called for the construction of a Northeast Asia super grid to enhance energy cooperation, which would lay the foundation for an envisioned economic community. The initi September 7, 2017