'99% of National Pipelines Over 20 Years Old'...Mandatory 'Precision Safety Inspections' Using Excavation and Specialized Equipment

Pipeline Safety Management Act, Promulgated on the 15th and Effective from December 16

Follow-up Measures to the 'Comprehensive Infrastructure Safety Plan' Established After the Heat Transmission Pipe Accident at Baekseok Station in Goyang City

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] From now on, mandatory precision safety inspections must be conducted on long-used aging oil pipelines.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 14th that the amended "Pipeline Safety Management Act," which includes these provisions, was promulgated on the 15th and will take effect from December 16.

This amendment was made as part of the follow-up measures to the "Comprehensive Infrastructure Safety Plan" prepared in response to the KT communication duct fire and the heat transmission pipe accident at Baekseok Station in Goyang City, which occurred consecutively in 2018.

According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the total length of oil pipelines nationwide is 1,344 km. Of these, 99% are over 20 years old, raising safety management concerns. Accordingly, pipeline operators and managers are now required to periodically conduct precision safety inspections on long-used pipelines by performing excavation investigations and using specialized equipment and technology to thoroughly check the thickness and corrosion status of buried pipes. Those who refuse, obstruct, or evade such inspections will face imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million KRW.

The Ministry expects that the introduction of the precision safety inspection system for long-used pipelines will proactively prevent accidents such as environmental pollution and fires caused by pipeline leaks.

In addition, the High-Pressure Gas Safety Control Act, the Safety Control and Business Act for Liquefied Petroleum Gas, and the City Gas Business Act were also amended and promulgated. Private members of the Gas Technology Standards Committee, which establishes and revises safety standards, will be treated as public officials under the law when applying penalties, thereby enhancing the committee's fairness and accountability. Furthermore, inspection results for specific liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) usage facilities, which have high safety importance, will be disclosed to the public to strengthen the public's right to know about safety.

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