The government said it expects stable power supply to be possible for the new semiconductor industrial complex in the Honam region even without separate new inter-regional tie lines. Tie lines refer to transmission lines consolidated to send surplus electricity from one region to another that lacks it. With ample generation from renewable energy and nuclear power, it judged that demand can be met without strain.
The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said on the 8th that Vice Minister Lee Ho-hyeon met with Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) at the Government Sejong Complex to discuss and move forward with measures for early power supply to the new semiconductor industrial complex in the Honam region.
On the 6th, with the industrial complex site confirmed as the Gwangju military airport site, the ministry said it plans to push for early power supply by 2030. The Vice Minister that day discussed plans to expedite construction of new supply lines consolidating KEPCO's common grid and the industrial complex, the cooperation needed from local governments and relevant ministries, and checked KEPCO's response system.
KEPCO said it formed the "Mega Project On-time Power Grid Construction Task Force" with Power System Executive Vice President Kim Jae-goon as Head of Team to ensure seamless implementation of the three mega projects. It plans to establish a power supply system before the point in time corporations need it through construction and procurement innovation.
It also reviewed the status and future plans for tie lines to ensure 24-hour stable power supply to semiconductor plants despite renewable energy variability. A ministry official said, "Our country's power system is consolidated nationwide, so if generation in a region is in surplus or shortfall, it can be supplemented through inter-regional tie lines," and noted, "We are establishing nationwide basic plans for power supply and demand and for transmission and substation facilities."
The government also plans to finalize new energy storage systems (ESS) and pumped-storage power to back stable power supply through the 12th Basic Plan for Power Supply and Demand.