Will the 'Drilling Rig' Evidence of the Pohang Induced Earthquake Disappear... Demolition Proceeded Despite Preservation Request

Earthquake Investigation Committee Decides Evidence Preservation on July 28... Continues Drilling Rig Removal Afterwards

The left side shows the drilling rig during the demolition preparation stage last weekend. The right side shows the drilling rig after the demolition was forcibly carried out last weekend.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] The dismantling work of the drilling rig, which is an important piece of evidence that triggered the Pohang earthquake in November 2017, is continuing despite the decision of the Truth Investigation Committee.

According to Pohang City on the 2nd, a site inspection of the Pohang geothermal power plant last weekend confirmed that the dismantling work of the drilling rig at the geothermal power plant site is still ongoing.

Earlier, the Pohang Earthquake Truth Investigation Committee under the Prime Minister held a meeting on the 28th of last month and decided to "preserve the drilling rig until the completion of the truth investigation," and sent related official documents to the owners, Daesin FNI and Shinhan Capital. The preservation decision targets the geothermal power plant site recognized to be related to the Pohang earthquake and related items (drilling rig, drilling rock fragments, generator, wastewater, etc.).

Pohang City also sent official letters again to related agencies such as the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning, and the owners, repeatedly requesting countermeasures in accordance with the decision of the Truth Investigation Committee. In addition, regarding the continued dismantling of the drilling rig, an emergency joint meeting involving the Truth Investigation Committee, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning was requested on the 3rd.

A Pohang City official stated, "Since the Truth Investigation Committee decided that it should be preserved as evidence of the Pohang earthquake, related agencies and owners must respect and comply with the committee's decision," and emphasized, "The dismantling should be suspended until the truth investigation of the Pohang earthquake is completed, considering the demands of the citizens."

Meanwhile, Shinhan Capital, which owns the main body of the Pohang geothermal power plant drilling rig and mud pump and other drilling equipment, sold the drilling rig to an Indonesian company on February 13 for 1.6 million dollars (19.2 billion won). The Indonesian company that purchased the equipment began dismantling the drilling rig by deploying technicians starting July 15.

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