Assemblyman Shin Jeong-hoon Urges Active Measures to Resolve Naju SRF Issue

Strong Regret Expressed by Jeonnam Province and Korea District Heating Corporation

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Shin Jeong-hoon, a member of the National Assembly’s Industry, Trade and Energy Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea (Jeonnam Naju·Hwasun), expressed strong regret to Jeonnam Province and Korea District Heating Corporation over the delayed negotiations of the public-private cooperation governance formed to resolve the operation of the Naju combined heat and power plant.

On the 24th, Representative Shin stated that the public-private cooperation governance agreed to extend the "subsidiary agreement discussion period" by two more months until November 30, and that the negotiating parties are facing a breakdown in talks as they avoid responsibility and make no effort themselves.

In this regard, at the party-government meeting held on the 23rd to secure next year’s budget, Representative Shin raised concerns about Jeonnam Province’s passive response to Governor Kim Young-rok and urged prompt compensation for losses to resolve the Naju SRF issue.

Representative Shin said, “Although Jeonnam Province, which brought about the governance agreement, should have sincerely led the negotiations as a principal party more than anyone else, it only played the role of mediator, and the negotiations did not advance a single step,” adding, “Even the sunk costs of the power plant, which all governance participating institutions recognized among the loss costs, ended up wasting time due to disagreements between institutions over who should bear the burden and how.”

Regarding the need for Jeonnam Province to show a more responsible attitude as a party to the governance agreement, Governor Kim Young-rok stated, “We will prepare countermeasures soon.”

On the same day, Representative Shin also summoned Lee Kyung-sil, Vice President of Korea District Heating Corporation, to the National Assembly and demanded that the corporation actively prepare and present measures regarding the total amount of losses, excluding losses related to the import of Gwangju SRF.

Representative Shin emphasized, “For negotiations to progress, the negotiating parties must be willing to share some of the burden and make sacrifices,” urging a proactive change in attitude from the negotiating parties.