Naju City Cancels 'SRF Usage Permit'... Urges for Solution Measures

[Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] Naju City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Kang In-gyu) has revoked the usage permit for solid fuel products (hereinafter SRF) issued to Korea District Heating Corporation.

According to the city on the 18th, this action follows the quality inspection results of the Jangseong SRF stockyard fuel conducted by the Waste Resource Energy Center under the Ministry of Environment in July, which found that two items, moisture and lead, exceeded the standard limits, resulting in a determination of non-compliance with quality standards.

In an official statement released that day, the city announced the cancellation of the SRF usage permit and strongly urged Korea District Heating Corporation to come up with practical solutions to ensure Gwangju City's independent waste treatment plan and to guarantee citizens' health and environmental rights.

The city pointed out, "We believe that Korea District Heating Corporation obtained the permit through improper means by not informing the permitting authority, the city, of the quality issues known since their SRF usage report in Gwangju in 2017."

It was made clear that such actions by Korea District Heating Corporation constitute clear grounds for revoking the solid fuel product usage permit under Article 25-7, Paragraph 4, Items 1 and 3 of the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources.

The city emphasized, "The fact that lead exceeded the standard is a serious matter that can directly affect citizens' health," and added, "The incineration of approximately 20,000 tons of SRF that violated quality standards over three months has resulted in the realization of citizens' concerns about the environment and safety."

Furthermore, the city criticized, "Despite repeatedly urging the suspension of power plant operations and ongoing appeals against the refusal of business commencement approval, Korea District Heating Corporation unilaterally proceeded with power plant operations without securing adequate SRF quality."

The city stated, "The starting point for resolving the issue is for Gwangju City to establish its own treatment plan for Gwangju City's waste, which is the raw material for SRF that failed quality standards," and added, "Gwangju City must promptly prepare a reasonable and safe independent treatment plan for the waste that caused the conflict."

It further urged, "Before asserting compliance with air emission standards at the combined heat and power plant, Korea District Heating Corporation must actively work on practical solutions to guarantee the health and environmental rights of 120,000 citizens at risk due to the use of SRF that does not meet quality standards."

The city concluded, "To fundamentally resolve the combined heat and power plant issue, we will actively cooperate to have the Carbon Neutrality Special Committee, which includes stakeholders and government and ruling party members, prepare legal and institutional improvement measures for SRF policy," and added, "We will continue to do our best to uphold administrative principles from the citizens' perspective."

Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong bong2910@asiae.co.kr