The government is pushing a plan to extend operation of Boryung Thermal Power Plant Unit 5 and Hadong Thermal Power Plant Unit 1, which were slated to shut in June, until March next year, according to reports on the 25th. Both plants run on coal. With supply difficulties for oil and gas anticipated due to the recent Middle East war, the government decided to maintain coal-fired generation for the time being.
President Lee Jae-myung said at a Cabinet meeting on the 24th that "the closure of three coal-fired plants in Hadong, Boryung and Taean is scheduled to begin in June," and directed Minister Kim Sung-hwan of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment to "review adjusting the timetable because we do not know how the (Middle East war) situation will unfold."
Hadong Thermal Power Unit 1 and Boryung Thermal Power Unit 5 were scheduled to close at the end of June. However, the climate ministry is pushing a plan to extend operation of the two coal-fired plants. An official at the ministry said, "We are discussing with the power generation companies a plan to extend operation of the Hadong and Boryung thermal power plants," adding, "If the extension is decided, it will be included in the 12th Basic Plan for Long-term Electricity Supply and Demand to be released in the first half of this year."
An official at Korea Midland Power Co. (KOMIPO), which oversees the Boryung thermal plant, said, "The climate ministry recently contacted us saying a review is needed regarding adjusting the retirement timing," adding, "Since completion of Boryung New Combined Cycle, the replacement for Boryung Unit 5, is scheduled for March 2027, a nine-month extension is under discussion." Korea Southern Power Co. (KOSPO), which oversees the Hadong thermal plant, also said, "Considering that the replacement facility for Hadong Thermal Unit 1 is set to begin commercial operation from March next year, we are discussing a plan to delay the closure by about nine months."
Taean Thermal Unit 2 is scheduled to close at the end of December. An official at the climate ministry said, "For Taean, there is still time to decide whether to extend operation." If the Middle East war drags on, the Taean thermal plant may also extend operation.
Meanwhile, the government decided to raise utilization rates in light of the Middle East war. During the "fine dust season management period," usually through the end of March, weekday output of coal-fired generators must be capped at 80% and some units must be idled on weekends, but the government intends to apply this standard flexibly. Early restart of six nuclear units currently under maintenance is also being pursued.