ID :
65513
Fri, 06/12/2009 - 16:12
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/65513
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S. Korea ready to meet peak summer power demand: gov't
SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is ready to meet hikes in power demand this summer as the country's electricity generation capacity far exceeds demand growth, the government said Friday.
The country's maximum power demand is expected to rise 4.1 percent from a year
earlier, reaching 65.35 million kilowatts, while supply capability has jumped 7.4
percent to 72.99 million kilowatts, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said.
The figures amount to a reserve supply of electricity of 11.7 percent, or 7.29
million kilowatts, which exceeds the 10 percent recommended by the industry to
prevent any sudden need to limit the power supply, known as brownouts.
South Korea has not suffered a brownout since 1971 when the country's power
infrastructure was prone to breakdowns and there was insufficient supply.
The forecast is based on expected power demand with an average temperature of
28.1 C during the peak months of July and August, though it takes into account
the possibility of sustained high temperatures of 32.3 C. It also factors in the
national economy contracting 2.3 percent annually this year as predicted by the
state-run Korea Development Institute.
"South Korea's power demand has gained 5-8 percent on-year in the past five years
but edged up only 0.8 percent in 2008 as economic growth slackened off and due to
unusually low temperatures in August," said a ministry official. He added that
sluggish economic growth could cause adjustments in demand for electricity by
manufacturers this year.
The official noted that even if there is a rise in temperatures this summer that
was not properly anticipated, local power suppliers have prepared for such a
contingency.
He said that even if temperatures rise by two degrees in the peak months, the
country would still have 4.99 million kilowatts of excess power production
capacity, or a reserve rate of 7.4 percent.
The ministry said the greater supply is made possible by new electricity
generating stations that began operating this year and increased output from both
nuclear and coal-fired generators.
The country's maximum power demand is expected to rise 4.1 percent from a year
earlier, reaching 65.35 million kilowatts, while supply capability has jumped 7.4
percent to 72.99 million kilowatts, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said.
The figures amount to a reserve supply of electricity of 11.7 percent, or 7.29
million kilowatts, which exceeds the 10 percent recommended by the industry to
prevent any sudden need to limit the power supply, known as brownouts.
South Korea has not suffered a brownout since 1971 when the country's power
infrastructure was prone to breakdowns and there was insufficient supply.
The forecast is based on expected power demand with an average temperature of
28.1 C during the peak months of July and August, though it takes into account
the possibility of sustained high temperatures of 32.3 C. It also factors in the
national economy contracting 2.3 percent annually this year as predicted by the
state-run Korea Development Institute.
"South Korea's power demand has gained 5-8 percent on-year in the past five years
but edged up only 0.8 percent in 2008 as economic growth slackened off and due to
unusually low temperatures in August," said a ministry official. He added that
sluggish economic growth could cause adjustments in demand for electricity by
manufacturers this year.
The official noted that even if there is a rise in temperatures this summer that
was not properly anticipated, local power suppliers have prepared for such a
contingency.
He said that even if temperatures rise by two degrees in the peak months, the
country would still have 4.99 million kilowatts of excess power production
capacity, or a reserve rate of 7.4 percent.
The ministry said the greater supply is made possible by new electricity
generating stations that began operating this year and increased output from both
nuclear and coal-fired generators.
