Ministry of Environment to Suspend Operations at Yeongpo Seokpo Smelter for 58 Days Starting Late February Next Year

The Ministry of Environment and Gyeongsangbuk-do announced on the 30th that they have imposed an administrative suspension of operations for 58 days starting from February 26 next year on Yeongpung Seokpo Smelter.

This action was taken following the detection of violations of the Water Environment Conservation Act by Yeongpung Seokpo Smelter in April 2019. At that time, the smelter was found to have discharged wastewater without passing through pollution prevention facilities, and Gyeongsangbuk-do issued an administrative sanction. The smelter filed a cancellation lawsuit against the sanction, but on October 31, the Supreme Court upheld the government's victory with a final ruling.

The Ministry of Environment stated that the timing of the suspension was decided with the goal of preventing environmental pollution and safety accidents. They first judged that suspending operations during winter could cause secondary pollution due to freezing accidents, so they avoided the coldest season. They also considered that contaminated groundwater and rainwater (initial runoff), which are entirely used as process water, cannot be introduced during the suspension period, concluding that imposing the sanction in spring (dry season) is optimal.

Even during the suspension period, treatment of about 500 tons per day of contaminated groundwater must continue. Appropriate measures must also be taken for rainwater (initial runoff) during rainfall. The Ministry of Environment has requested the smelter to establish proper treatment plans for contaminated groundwater and rainwater. Since treated water during the suspension cannot be reintroduced into the process, it will be discharged into the Nakdong River.

During the suspension, activities such as inputting zinc concentrate into the production process to produce zinc ingots are strictly prohibited. However, environmental management and safety management activities unrelated to product manufacturing are allowed.

The Ministry of Environment and Gyeongsangbuk-do have required the submission of a detailed suspension implementation plan, including treatment measures for groundwater and rainwater (runoff), aimed at preventing environmental and safety accidents, by the 15th of next month.

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