The four major business organizations, including the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), and civil organizations on Jan. 3 adopted a power-saving practice declaration, and said it will participate in the government’s energy-saving campaigns. At the same time, 140,000 companies nationwide began to implement similar electricity-saving measures.
The government has enforced energy-saving measures, including limiting the indoor temperature of public facilities to 18 degrees or less, since last month.
The declaration calls for the implementation of 50 measures to reduce inefficient use of energy in the industry during this winter, thus becoming a role model to the world on rational energy consumption, industry sources said. Also included in the declaration are plans to educate and spread the energy saving habits across the country.
On Dec. 7, the nation's electricity reserve levels fell below the 4 million kilowatts level for 21 minutes, prompting the power distributor Korea Power Exchange to send out an energy shortage alert.
Cho Se-cheol, an official at the state-run Korea Power Exchange, said, “The power reserve has been successfully managed to stay above the critical mark of 4 million kilowatts, mainly due to the reactivation of the Yeonggwang nuclear reactor No. 5."
Work to build two nuclear reactors, Shingori No.4 and Yeongheung No. 6, is now underway. Completion is due for summer 2014.
By Keat Min Woo
Aju Business Daily intern
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com