MKE is building six additional power plants. In addition, the ministry adjusted the retirement schedules of power plants to stabilize the power supply.

Through its recent notification, MKE clarified that it changed power generation facility plans to stabilize the short/mid-term power supplies. MKE is building six more plants than scheduled in the 5th Basic Plan of Power Supply and Demand and postponing closing scheduled of 9 plants.

According to the deliberations of the Power Policy Council, MKE will build three additional plants each in 2013 and 2014, totaling six more plants (2,600MW).

MKE decided to add: 1) Sinwulsan Combined Cycle GT (July; 550MW), Sinpyeongtaek Combined Cycle GT (July; 620MW) and Yulchon 2GT (June; 634MW) to the 2013 construction plan to originally build Sinwolseong No. 2, Singori No. 3, Pocheon Combined Cycle No. 1, Bugok Combined Cycle No. 1 and Andong Combined Cycle Plant; and 2) Sinwulsan Combined Cycle ST (June; 250MW), Sinpyeongtaek Combined Cycle ST (October; 300MW) and Yulchon 2ST (June; 312MW) to the 2014 construction plan to originally build Singori No. 4, Yeongheung No. 5 & 6, Donghaeminja No. 1, Ansan Combined Cycle No. 1, Jangheung Combined Cycle, Munsan Combined Cycle, Pocheon Combined Cycle, Chuncheon Combined Cycle, Seoul Combined Cycle No. 1 & 2 and Dongducheon Combined Cycle No. 1 & 2.

This move illustrates the ministry's intention to secure as much power supply as possible to meet demands. In addition, MKE pushed back the closing schedule of 9 plants initially scheduled to close in 2013.

To stabilize the power supply during the wintertime power peak period, MKE decided to operate Yeosu Thermal Power Plant No. 1 (200MW) and Namjeju Internal Combustion Power Plants No. 1 ~ 4 (40MW) - which were scheduled to be retired last January - until March when winter is over.

Additionally, the ministry decided to run Yeongnam No. 1 and 2 (400MW) and Boryeong Combined Cycle No. 3 (450MW) - which were scheduled for closing in 2013 - until 2014 when new power plants is completely built. Originally scheduled to close in 2013, Jeju GT No. 3 (55MW) will be retired in 2018.

“For stable power supply, we changed the generation facility plan of the 5th Basic Plan of long-term power supply and demand (2010 ∼ 2024),” asserted a source at MKE. He also added, “We will contribute to stabilizing the power supply by extending operation of existing plants and building new plants on time.”