Shin Jeong-hoon: "SRF is a flawed policy design, a failed policy"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Congressman Shin Jeong-hoon (Naju·Hwasun, Jeonnam, Democratic Party of Korea) urged the government to actively prepare countermeasures to resolve the issues of the Naju SRF (Solid Refuse Fuel) combined heat and power plant.

On the 7th, during the National Assembly Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Business Committee’s audit, Congressman Shin pointed out to Minister Sung Yun-mo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, “Among the approximately 60 SRF power plant projects approved over the past three years, about 10 projects including Naju, Wonju in Gangwon, Yangju, Dongducheon, Yeoju in Gyeonggi, and Damyang, Muan in Jeonnam have been suspended or stranded. The biggest reason is that SRF is perceived not as fuel but as waste.”

According to the Korea District Heating Corporation’s fuel supply plan, up to 360 tons of household waste from Gwangju is expected to be brought into Naju SRF daily. Congressman Shin said, “Since Gwangju waste is introduced to the Naju combined heat and power plant through a single official document in administrative procedures, residents’ opposition is natural.”

Congressman Shin emphasized, “It is unfair to receive waste from other regions, but the processing costs are passed on and sold, and the citizens of Naju bear these costs, which is an absurd situation,” adding, “The principle of responsible treatment at the waste generation site must be strictly observed.”

He continued, “Failed policies resulting from flawed policy design are being imposed on residents, and under current laws, there is no way to address this,” pointing out, “This is a policy failure caused by not considering residents’ acceptance at all while turning waste into fuel.”

He urged, “SRF should be managed through strict procedures and processes as a waste policy, not as energy, and the basic principles of the Waste Management Act?environmental preservation and protection of public health?must be prioritized,” and called on the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to work with the Ministry of Environment to establish comprehensive government-wide countermeasures to resolve the SRF issue.

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