Gwangju Nam-gu Wins National TOP at Korea Energy Awards

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Nam-gu, Gwangju (District Mayor Kim Byeong-nae) received the Prime Minister's Institutional Commendation, the only local government to do so, for its outstanding energy efficiency projects targeting vulnerable groups and public facilities while promoting the ‘2030 Green Energy Self-Reliant City Creation’ project at the national top level.

According to Nam-gu on the 17th, the ‘2021 Korea Energy Awards Ceremony’ hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy was held that morning at the Grand Intercontinental Seoul Parnas Hotel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

The Korea Energy Award is the highest government award in the energy sector given to public institutions and contributors who have contributed to the development of the energy industry and improvement of efficiency. Nam-gu earned the honor of receiving the Prime Minister's Institutional Commendation awarded to the public institution ranked first in this evaluation.

The background for receiving the government award was that Nam-gu promoted national energy efficiency improvement and contributed to the development of the renewable energy industry in line with the government's energy policy direction.

In particular, aiming for a 50% renewable energy self-sufficiency rate by 2030, Nam-gu has been promoting the Green Energy Self-Reliant City Creation project. From 2019 to 2020, it carried out energy efficiency improvement projects targeting 3,466 energy-vulnerable households identified within the district, achieving a 20% reduction in energy consumption per household.

Additionally, from 2014 to 2020, Nam-gu improved power efficiency for 1,360 vulnerable households annually by replacing 19,720 low-efficiency lights with LEDs, reducing electricity usage by up to 40%. It also supported universal energy welfare by assisting 135 low-income households with insulation, window replacement, and old boiler replacement.

Furthermore, as part of public institution energy efficiency efforts, Nam-gu invested 10 billion KRW to replace all 12,152 lights in 17 public institutions with LEDs, installed standby power cut-off systems in three district administrative welfare centers, and promoted green remodeling in two public buildings, which received favorable evaluations for improving energy efficiency.

Along with this, Nam-gu led carbon reduction initiatives by distributing intelligent power meter systems to 2,945 apartment units, installing smart gas meters in 479 units to provide energy information, and conducting the first project in Gwangju and Jeonnam to install shared electric motorcycle battery charging booths at 182 public telephone booths.

Moreover, the two national and local industrial complexes being developed in Daechon-dong were designated as energy industry convergence complexes in 2019, developing them as specialized energy industrial complexes. Since last year, Nam-gu has actively promoted the government’s core energy policies by further developing two industrial complexes designated as Gwangju Free Economic Zones into smart energy industrial districts.

District Mayor Kim Byeong-nae stated, “According to the basic plan for the energy sector vision, ‘Nam-gu 2030 Green Energy Self-Reliant City,’ we will continue to steadily implement energy policies to realize universal energy welfare and build a vibrant economic city through fostering new energy industries.”

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