South Korean energy woes

Freeze energy consumption levels

The Dong-a Ilbo,

DECEMBER 16, 2011 07:12

Alarm bells have gone off over the power supply this winter in the wake of two 950,000-kilowatt nuclear reactors malfunctioning simultaneously. This has caused the national power reserve ratio to fall to 8 percent. Considering that three other nuclear plants with a combined capacity of 2.7 million kilowatts have been stopped for maintenance, five of Korea`s 21 nuclear power plants have come to a standstill. A million kilowatt reactor resumed normal operations Thursday to help ease the situation. If the weather gets colder and power consumption increases, however, a major power crisis could occur.

The Knowledge Economy Ministry is worried that power reserves will plunge to 530,000 kilowatts in mid-January, when a severe cold spell is expected to hit the nation. If a million kilowatt nuclear plant stops operating under such a situation, the entire country will suffer a blackout. Considering that a brief power outage in many parts of the country in the summer caused elevators to stop and killed many fish at aquaculture farms, a blackout in the middle of winter could prove disastrous. The Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. must do its best to prevent nuclear reactors from malfunctioning. As the peak time for power consumption has shifted from summer to winter, the company should avoid conducting maintenance work in winter.

The lower-than-cost prices for power are the fundamental cause for overconsumption of power, but another price hike is considered difficult given the two raises this year. Power supply problems often occur at peak times. Despite abundant power reserves in normal times, surging power consumption in the middle of summer and winter drains the reserves. If energy conservation campaigns can help the country ride over the peak times, there is no need to build more nuclear or thermal power plants. After suffering a nuclear plant crisis this year, Japan raised many eyebrows in the world last summer by reducing power consumption 22 percent, far higher than the target of 15 percent though over half of its nuclear plants stopped operating. This feat was possible because the Japanese people fully cooperated with their government`s plan, maintaining indoor temperatures above 28 degrees Celsius despite extremely hot weather.

Korea should also stop wasting power. Certain stores leave their lights on in their show windows overnight though few pedestrians pass by. At other workplaces, employees are dressed in short sleeve shirts with the heater turned on. The government began Wednesday a crackdown on high indoor heating and neon lights. The public should make it a habit to save energy. Energy frugality is the fifth source of energy.

The country can no longer afford to barely make it through energy peak times. The government should gradually increase electricity prices and raise power supply while reining in demand by enhancing energy efficiency. It should also build more nuclear plants on the condition that stronger safety measures are taken. At a time of climate change, nuclear power seems to be the only economically viable option without emitting carbon dioxide.