The South Korean government is reviewing power supply plans for the semiconductor complex in the Honam region. The aim is to utilize nearby transmission lines to provide initial power by June 2030 and discuss detailed measures to enhance community acceptance.
The Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment announced that Minister Kim Seong-hwan will visit the power supply route areas for the Honam semiconductor complex and the Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall on the afternoon of July 16 to discuss early power supply solutions. This visit comes about two weeks after a site visit to the construction of the Sinjangseong substation on June 30.
The ministry and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) plan to supply initial power to the Honam semiconductor complex from the nearby 345kV Sinjangseong-Shingwangju transmission line. The expected route for the power supply includes a mix of mountainous and flat terrain, as well as residential areas, prompting discussions on expanding underground lines to improve community acceptance.
Minister Kim will first inspect the areas along the supply route from KEPCO's public network to assess the power supply plan and construction conditions for early implementation. He will then chair a meeting at Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall with Mayor Min Hyung-bae and KEPCO President Kim Dong-cheol to review the power supply for the Honam semiconductor complex.
The ministry and KEPCO aim to quickly finalize the optimal power supply plan that enhances community acceptance through consultations with related companies, local governments, and relevant ministries. In particular, to shorten construction timelines, KEPCO and local governments will activate a cooperative system to support the early establishment of power infrastructure on-site.
The semiconductor complex requires not only factory sites and water resources but also a stable power supply to avoid delays in construction and operation schedules. Advanced semiconductor manufacturing facilities require large amounts of stable power, making the speed of building transmission lines and substations a key factor in the complex's competitiveness.
Minister Kim Seong-hwan stated, "The key prerequisite for establishing the Honam semiconductor complex is the rapid expansion of power infrastructure. We will concentrate all administrative capabilities to expedite the permitting process and construction timelines to ensure early establishment of power supply facilities."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.