The project to build power and water supply facilities needed for the Honam semiconductor cluster is being pushed with a groundbreaking target of next July.
On the 5th, according to the government and Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, the city is discussing plans to create power and water supply facilities for the Honam semiconductor cluster with the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), the Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water), and others.
Power will be supplied by linking new supply lines and substation facilities from the 345-kV power grid in the Honam region, including the Sinjangseong Substation, to the industrial complex. The Sinjangseong Substation is scheduled for completion next September.
The power needed to operate four semiconductor plants is estimated at about 6.3 GW. The government plans to meet supply in stages by connecting the Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant with local renewable energy.
Industrial water demand was forecast at about 650,000 tons per day. A plan was proposed to draw that water from Dongbok Dam (300,000 tons), Juam and Jangheung dams (150,000 tons), Boseong River Dam (100,000 tons), and Naju Dam (100,000 tons). It was also reported that the industrial water pipeline linking to the semiconductor industrial complex and additional water securing facilities are highly likely to break ground next July.
Earlier, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources reaffirmed in a work report the previous day its goal to break ground on the Honam semiconductor cluster and begin production within the current administration's term.
Within this year, the plan is to select a project operator for the industrial complex development, complete designation of the cluster at the candidate site, and promptly proceed with permits and approvals related to securing power and water. Procedures for site development, including development plan establishment, environmental and traffic impact assessments, and compensation, also appear set to move forward.
The government and Jeonnam-Gwangju Special City plan to reflect matters related to the semiconductor cluster in the basic power supply plan and the national waterworks basic plan, while also expanding the metropolitan transportation network, establishing a southern-region semiconductor joint engineering college, and improving living conditions in parallel.