POSCO Activates Typhoon Disaster Recovery Task Force... "Power Substations to Normalize Within 1-2 Days" (Comprehensive)

Sequential Announcements on Overall Damage Scale and Future Resumption Plans
Chairman Choi Jung-woo Calls for Group-wide Full Support and Response

Employees are sweeping the material warehouse of Pohang Steelworks covered in muddy water with brooms. Photo by POSCO

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seoyoon] On the 7th, POSCO announced that it formed a "Typhoon Disaster Recovery TF" led by Vice Chairman Kim Hakdong, including executives related to facilities, production and sales, technology, and safety, and discussed rapid measures to normalize operations.

According to POSCO, the Pohang Steelworks formed a Natural Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters and suspended operations for one day on the 6th, the expected landfall date of Typhoon Hinnamnor. They completed inspections of all facilities, drainage maintenance, and water barrier work. However, in the early morning of that day, a record-breaking heavy rain of up to 500mm coincided with high tide, causing the nearby river, Naengcheon, to suddenly overflow.

POSCO stated that this led to an unavoidable situation where the power supply facility, the receiving substation from KEPCO, and most areas of the steelworks were flooded and experienced power outages.

Vice Chairman Kim Hakdong emphasized that the most important thing at this point is the early normalization of operations. He set a plan to resume operations as soon as possible by repeatedly resting and blowing air for each blast furnace to ensure their normal operation.

For the flooded receiving substation, the plan is to restore normal operations within 1 to 2 days to open the way for recovery work. Some of the slabs produced at Pohang Steelworks will be transferred and processed at Gwangyang Steelworks, and production at Gwangyang Steelworks will be maximized.

The Typhoon Disaster Recovery TF plans to sequentially announce the overall damage scale and future operation normalization plans as they are organized.

POSCO Group Chairman Choi Jungwoo also visited POSCO Pohang Steelworks the day before, inspecting the flooded areas around Naengcheon, the No. 2 hot rolling mill, the substation, and other damage sites, checking on employee safety, and presiding over an emergency countermeasure meeting on site.

At the meeting, Chairman Choi said, "Employees must unite their strength to restore the damage as safely and quickly as possible and normalize operations so that there is no impact on the nation and local economy," and emphasized, "The group must provide full support and response for flood recovery." He also urged, "Although POSCO suffered significant damage, actively seek various ways to support and contribute so that the local community and residents can overcome their pain and recover quickly."

Typhoon No. 11 'Hinnamnor' brought heavy rain, flooding the POSCO Pohang Steelworks in Nam-gu, Pohang City, Gyeongbuk, on the morning of the 6th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

About 15,000 employees from Pohang Steelworks and partner companies have been clearing sediment brought in by the typhoon and repairing damaged facilities. Some personnel from Gwangyang Steelworks also participated in the recovery efforts.

Jung Youngwook, assistant manager of POSCO's Human Resources and Culture Office, said, "Amid the unprecedented natural disaster of the typhoon causing extensive damage throughout Pohang city, the steelworks also suffered massive damage. All employees are participating and doing their best in recovery activities to resume normal operations as soon as possible."

Kim Dongju, who works at Daemyung, a partner company of Pohang Steelworks, said, "Although the record-breaking typhoon caused significant damage, it is a great relief that no casualties occurred, possibly because POSCO and its partners closely shared information about the typhoon situation and prepared in advance." He added, "I hope POSCO and its partners cooperate to normalize operations as quickly as possible."

Meanwhile, POSCO Holdings announced on the same day that it would suspend all production processes, including steelmaking and rolling, at POSCO Pohang Steelworks due to factory flooding caused by Typhoon Hinnamnor. This full suspension of operations is the first time in 49 years since POSCO first produced molten iron in 1973. POSCO Holdings stated, "There was no damage to the three blast furnaces, which are core facilities of the steelworks, but they are temporarily suspended (idle) and will resume normal operation once power supply is restored." They added, "The recovery timing for product manufacturing processes such as the hot rolling line, which was flooded, is undecided, and some slabs produced at Pohang Steelworks will be transferred and processed at Gwangyang Steelworks."

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