The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy filed a request for an audit into how ActGeo was selected in the bid for a feasibility assessment service for the Blue Whale project.
On the 15th, the ministry said Minister Kim Jung-kwan had instructed that a public-interest audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection be requested for Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC). This followed allegations raised at a National Assembly audit on the 13th regarding the Blue Whale structural drilling project.
The allegations raised at the audit included: ▲ the process and criteria by which ActGeo was selected in KNOC's Ulleung Basin technical evaluation service ▲ the circumstances of KNOC canceling a Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) review on seismic safety for East Sea exploratory drilling.
There was also criticism that it was inappropriate for the responsible team and executives to receive top-tier performance evaluations and for the executive in charge to be promoted to vice president, even though KNOC announced that the Blue Whale drilling project was not economically viable.
Accordingly, the ministry plans to promptly request a public-interest audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection in accordance with the relevant rules and procedures.
A ministry official said, "Regarding the separate allegations raised at the audit concerning the president of Korea Coal Corporation, we will consider that these are personal matters for the president, conduct an audit at the ministry level, and then take corresponding measures accordingly."