The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on the 12th held the "central-local council on power grids" at the Government Complex Seoul, chaired by Vice Minister Lee Ho-hyun.
The council was arranged ahead of the Special Act on Expanding National Backbone Power Grids (Special Act), set to take effect on the 26th of this month, to discuss cooperation on grid expansion and ways to secure resident acceptance together with 16 metropolitan local governments.
The national backbone power grid is core infrastructure for a stable supply of renewable energy and for fostering national advanced strategic industries. The government is pushing an "energy highway" that consolidates industrial hubs nationwide with renewable energy as a key strategic task. Following last month's launch of a pan-ministerial council on power grids, the ministry is activating the central-local power grid council to lay the groundwork to accelerate the energy highway, spanning relevant ministries and regions.
At this council, it will gather local opinions on facilities to be designated as part of the national backbone power grid. It also focused on discussing selection of grid routes and site acquisition, permitting and regulatory improvements, securing resident acceptance, and plans for linkage and cooperation with local governments.
First, to raise local awareness of the importance of power grids, the council asked local governments to establish training courses for local public officials and to hold policy briefings by region.
It also focused on cooperation plans to accelerate construction of the West Coast energy highway. Because regional cooperation is essential for early construction of the West Coast HVDC—including site selection for transmission and substation facilities and securing and developing sites for converter stations—the council urged active interest and cooperation from local governments.
In addition, it discussed promoting joint construction of SOC, such as linking the power grid with roads, so that national economic benefits can increase through efficient use of land and reduced construction costs.
Going forward, the council plans to finalize detailed implementation measures after deliberation and resolution at the first power grid committee meeting chaired by the prime minister.
Vice Minister Lee Ho-hyun said, "Building the power grid is not simply expanding power facilities, but a project in which local residents and local governments together build the aorta of national economic growth," and added, "The central government, local governments, and all related institutions should join forces with a sense of responsibility as the main actors in building the national backbone power grid to realize the energy highway."