Naju Mayor Kang In-gyu Criticizes Poor Management of Gwangju SRF

[Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] Kang In-gyu, mayor of Naju, Jeollanam-do, raised his voice in criticism and protest over the poor management of the storage site for non-shaped SRF (Solid Refuse Fuel from combustible household waste, hereinafter Gwangju SRF) used as fuel for the SRF combined heat and power plant operation in the Gwangju area.

According to the city on the 15th, Mayor Kang In-gyu made an urgent visit to the Jangseong-gun complex logistics terminal site, where about 34,000 tons of Gwangju SRF fuel piles were stacked, and conducted an on-site inspection together with Jangseong-gun.

This site visit came amid media reports and controversies regarding the quality suitability of the main fuel SRF, following the resumption of operation of the Naju SRF combined heat and power plant operated by Korea District Heating Corporation (hereinafter KDHC) on the 26th of last month after being non-operational for over four years.

According to the "Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources" (Article 25-5), “The Waste Energy Center of the Korea Environment Corporation under the Ministry of Environment must verify whether the SRF stored by the solid fuel product user meets quality standards according to inspection procedures and cycles prescribed by the Ministry of Environment.”

Adding to the shock, murky leachate seeping from the layered SRF piles was observed flowing along the ground into the drainage channels.

Mayor Kang said, “I feel devastated as rotten odors and visibly black leachate are flowing out from the SRF piles,” and protested, “KDHC has been incinerating SRF of waste-level quality for the past three years without a single quality inspection.”

He continued, “KDHC must immediately stop the operation of the power plant,” and raised his voice, “The Waste Energy Center of the Korea Environment Corporation must conduct an immediate quality inspection of the SRF.”

After the on-site inspection, the city issued a statement in the mayor’s name, urging once again the immediate suspension of KDHC’s SRF power plant operation.

The city emphasized, “KDHC’s act of transporting and incinerating Gwangju SRF without properly conducting legally mandated quality inspections for over three years is a condemnable act,” and added, “It is a very shocking matter that greatly deviates from the legal and moral responsibilities of a public enterprise that has advocated environmentally friendly power plant operation.”

Furthermore, “The solid fuel product used at the Naju SRF combined heat and power plant has not undergone any quality standard conformity inspection since the quality inspection in January 2018, over three years ago,” and added, “The Korea Environment Corporation (Waste Energy Center) must immediately conduct a quality inspection of the Gwangju non-shaped SRF stored long-term at the Jangseong complex logistics terminal.”

Mayor Kang In-gyu said, “I strongly condemn KDHC’s improper SRF incineration and power plant operation,” and stated, “We will continue to prioritize securing citizens’ health rights and environmental rights and take all appropriate measures.”