Assemblyman Shin Jeong-hoon Proposes Public Discussion on Troubled Naju SRF Combined Heat and Power Plant

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] The Carbon Neutrality Special Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea is forming a task force team and initiating public discussions regarding the Naju SRF combined heat and power plant issue, which has faced difficulties after the conclusion of public-private governance activities.

On the 23rd, Representative Shin Jeong-hoon (Democratic Party of Korea, Jeonnam Naju·Hwasun, Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee) proposed at the full meeting of the Democratic Party's Carbon Neutrality Special Committee Executive Committee, “Although various policies to materialize carbon neutrality are being prepared, the expansion of renewable energy policies remains a challenge due to factors such as local opposition,” adding, “The Naju SRF power plant, which shifted from energy policy to waste policy, is a representative case, and I suggest that the Carbon Neutrality Committee discuss it through public deliberation.”

Over the past three years, among about 60 sites that received business permits for SRF power plants, projects in more than 10 locations including Naju, Wonju in Gangwon, Yangju, Dongducheon, Yeoju in Gyeonggi, and Damyang, Muan in Jeonnam have been halted or stalled. The main reason appears to be the perception of SRF as waste rather than fuel.

In the case of Naju SRF, although Gwangju waste accounts for as much as 81% of the fuel plan, administrative procedures such as agreements with local governments, who are stakeholders, and council approvals were insufficient. Moreover, the policy failure occurred because resident acceptance was not considered at all while converting waste into fuel, resulting in loss costs due to the suspension of operations.

Representative Shin Jeong-hoon stated, “The Democratic Party's Carbon Neutrality Special Committee has decided to consider the overall SRF policy direction beyond the issues of specific regions, and plans to form a task force team centered on the committee’s power generation division to engage in discussions.”