"Change the Sand and Prevent Erosion"... Construction Delays Inevitable at Samcheok Thermal Power Plant

Ministry of Environment Notifies Suspension of Offshore Construction for Samcheok Units 1 and 2
Meeting April 2024 Completion Target Seems Difficult
Environmental Groups and Ruling Party Demand "Halt Power Plant Construction"

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Bo-kyung and Moon Chae-seok] A red alert has been issued for the Samcheok Thermal Power Plant construction project, which involves a total investment of 5 trillion KRW. The Ministry of Environment has ultimately issued a work stoppage order during the construction of the power plant’s port facilities, citing concerns that "the sandy beach is disappearing." Construction cannot resume until facilities to prevent coastal erosion are built. Scheduled for completion in 2024, the Samcheok Thermal Power Plant is a mega project with a generation capacity of 2100 MW (two units of 1050 MW each).

According to government officials and industry sources on the 14th, the Ministry of Environment issued a suspension order on the 12th for marine construction work, including the breakwater, for the Samcheok Thermal Power Plant. As a private coal power project, the plant is subject to orders from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the project approval authority. The Ministry of Industry plans to formally issue a work stoppage order to the project operator, Samcheok Blue Power (a subsidiary of POSCO Energy), soon after consultations with related agencies.

The marine construction, which has been ongoing since 2018, is now at risk of suspension due to the issue of coastal erosion caused by sand being washed away by waves. Construction of port facilities, including a coal unloading pier, is underway in the sea off Maengbang Beach in Samcheok, Gangwon Province. At a National Assembly audit of the Ministry of Environment on the 7th, concerns were raised that currents have changed after construction began, accelerating coastal erosion. In response, the Wonju Regional Environmental Office acted swiftly, prohibiting the resumption of construction until mitigation facilities to prevent coastal erosion are installed. However, there is also an opinion that Maengbang Beach was already in a serious state, having received a D-grade for coastal erosion seven times over the past decade from 2010 to last year, even before construction began.

On the 7th, Yang Yi-won-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, attended the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee's audit of the Ministry of Environment and others, stating, "The construction of a power plant near Maengbang Beach is causing coastal sand to be washed away, leading to erosion and adversely affecting the coastal environment," during questioning. / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

To replace the sand lost to erosion, large-scale dredged soil was dumped on the beach during construction, but it was labeled as 'poor quality,' forcing a full recovery and replacement. The replacement sand must have particle size and color similar to the original sand at Maengbang Beach. The Samcheok Thermal Power Plant project has faced numerous difficulties since its inception, causing delays, and the current progress rate of marine construction is about 7.5%. Although the goal is to complete the plant by April 2024, this recent measure raises the possibility of delays in construction and operation. A Ministry of Industry official refrained from detailed comments, stating, "Since Units 1 and 2 of Samcheok Thermal are led by a private company, the operator’s opinion is important."

Professor Lee Deok-hwan, emeritus professor of chemistry and science communication at Sogang University, criticized, "The Ministry of Industry’s commitment to securing power generation facilities appears weak," adding, "The nuclear phase-out policy has distorted plans to expand power facilities, and it seems the ministry no longer has the will or capability to push the project forward." He further noted, "After the announcement of the '9th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand' at the end of this year, this phenomenon may worsen."

Coupled with the government’s nuclear and coal phase-out policies, there is even a worst-case scenario where the power plant’s construction itself could be halted. Environmental groups continue to demand the suspension of the Samcheok Thermal Power Plant construction. Voices are also emerging within the ruling Democratic Party questioning whether a new coal-fired power plant should be built amid the climate crisis response framework. Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Seong-hwan stated at the Ministry of Industry audit, "To offset the greenhouse gases from the Samcheok Thermal Power Plant, an annual cost of 564 billion KRW is required, totaling 14 trillion KRW over a 25-year operation period," adding, "While sunk costs are estimated at 2 trillion KRW, social costs could be more than seven times higher."

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