Residents of Gurye Supporting the Construction of Yangsu Pumped Storage Power Plant

Published 29 Aug.2023 13:47(KST)

Launch of Pumped Storage Power Plant Attraction Committee Centered on Residents of Project Site

As local governments show keen interest in attracting pumped-storage power plants planned for construction under the government's 10th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, residents in the Muncheok-myeon area of Gurye-gun are actively mobilizing to attract a new pumped-storage power plant.

Led by Chairman Jeong Mansu, the 110-member 'Muncheok-myeon Pumped-Storage Power Plant Attraction Committee' held its launching ceremony on the morning of August 29 at Munilgwan in Muncheok-myeon and began full-scale attraction activities.

[Photo by Gurye-gun]

The launching ceremony was attended by many guests, including Kim Sunho, the governor of Gurye-gun, and members of the Gurye County Council, who united their intentions to attract the Gurye pumped-storage power plant.

After the launching ceremony, the attraction committee members visited the headquarters of Korea Midland Power Co., Ltd. (Boryeong-si, Chungnam), which is promoting the attraction of the pumped-storage power plant together with Gurye-gun, to deliver a petition for the attraction of the Gurye pumped-storage power plant and requested full support for the project.

The Gurye pumped-storage power plant is considered highly competitive due to its geographical advantage in overcoming the intermittency and rigidity of renewable energy concentrated in the Honam region, and the fact that there will be no secondary complaints regarding the construction of transmission lines that may arise after the power plant is built.

Pumped-storage power plants play a significant role as backup devices for renewable energy in response to the climate change crisis; however, there are currently no pumped-storage power plants in the Jeonnam area of the Honam region, which accounts for 46% of the nation's renewable energy.

Moreover, while many local governments face conflicts with residents over the construction of transmission lines necessary to transmit electricity generated after power plant construction, the planned site for the Gurye pumped-storage power plant already has existing transmission lines passing through it, so it is expected that secondary complaints due to power plant construction will be minimal.

The Muncheok-myeon Attraction Committee plans to continue its efforts in cooperation with Gurye-gun and Korea Midland Power Co., Ltd. until the day the Gurye pumped-storage power plant is successfully attracted.

Chairman Jeong Mansu said, "Since Muncheok-myeon was confirmed as a candidate site, we have held several residents' briefings and tours, resulting in a consensus among the majority of local residents that the pumped-storage power plant must be attracted," adding, "For the future of the region and our descendants, all residents of Muncheok-myeon will unite with one heart and actively carry out attraction activities."

Meanwhile, Gurye-gun signed a business agreement with Korea Midland Power Co., Ltd. on May 31 and has been promoting the attraction of the pumped-storage power plant. After selecting the Muncheok-myeon area as a candidate site and actively conducting residents' briefings and tours for all villages in Muncheok-myeon, it has garnered strong support from residents.