Pohang Earthquake Investigation Committee Decides to Preserve Evidence of 'Drilling Rig' at Geothermal Power Site

Investigation Committee Requests to Creditors and Ministry of Industry
Continuous Requests from Pohang City and City Council Accepted

On July 22, approximately 1,000 residents affected by the Pohang earthquake in Heunghae-eup, Buk-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongbuk, marched on the road after holding a rally demanding the revision of the enforcement decree of the Pohang Earthquake Special Act. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] The Pohang Earthquake Truth Investigation Committee, established under the Prime Minister's Office in accordance with the Pohang Earthquake Special Act, has decided to recognize and preserve the geothermal power drilling rig as evidence.

According to Pohang City on the 29th, the Truth Investigation Committee (Chairman Lee Hak-eun, President of Masan University) requested to preserve the geothermal power demonstration project site and store related items (drilling rig, drilling rock fragments, generator, wastewater, etc.) until the investigation to uncover the truth of the Pohang earthquake is completed.

The Truth Investigation Committee held a meeting on the 28th and made this decision, sending official letters to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and creditors such as Daishin FNI and Shinhan Capital to preserve the drilling rig.

In this regard, Pohang City and the City Council have repeatedly sent official letters requesting the preservation of the drilling rig as evidence until the earthquake investigation is completed and have conveyed the opinion that dismantling should be stopped. Additionally, the Pohang 11.15 Triggered Earthquake Citizens' Countermeasures Committee and the 11.15 Earthquake Geothermal Power Joint Research Group have strongly demanded the suspension of dismantling the drilling rig and various equipment while the Truth Investigation Committee's investigation is ongoing.

Article 11 (Methods of Investigation) and Article 29 (Protection of Activities of the Truth Investigation and Deliberation Committee, etc.) of the Pohang Earthquake Special Act stipulate that measures must be taken to preserve materials and items related to the Pohang earthquake and prevent their destruction for the purpose of the truth investigation.

The geothermal power drilling rig was sold to an Indonesian company in February, and with preliminary work for dismantling underway in July, key evidence for uncovering the truth of the triggered earthquake was at risk of disappearing.

A Pohang City official stated, "We welcome the recognition of the geothermal power site, drilling rig, and various equipment as evidence for uncovering the truth," adding, "We hope that through consultations with relevant central government departments and creditors, the evidence will be preserved and a thorough investigation will be conducted."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.