Ministry of Industry Conducts Joint Public-Private Inspection of Energy Facilities for Two Months

April 17 to June 16, Safety Inspections of 78 Facilities in 6 Energy Sectors
First Inspection Target: Korea District Heating Corporation Central Branch

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will conduct a joint public-private intensive safety inspection over two months on 78 facilities across six sectors under its jurisdiction.

On the 16th, the Ministry announced that it carried out the first on-site inspection of the '2023 Korea Safety Transformation, Joint Public-Private Intensive Safety Inspection' at the Korea District Heating Corporation Central Branch in Seoul. The Ministry's intensive safety inspection covers 78 facilities in six sectors including heat transport pipes, public gas, private gas, petroleum, and mining, and will be conducted jointly by public and private sectors for a total of 61 days from the 17th of this month to June 16. The head of the inspection task force is the First Vice Minister.

On the day, First Vice Minister Jang Young-jin, along with Song Hyun-gyu, Vice President of the Korea District Heating Corporation, Lee Sang-hoon, Chairman of the Korea Energy Agency, Professor Park Jang-ho of Ajou University (head of the joint inspection team), and Moon Chang-hyun, Director of Dongil Technology Corporation, listened to the management status of heat supply facilities and safety management such as emergency manuals at the Central Branch of the District Heating Corporation, and toured the heat source facilities within the Central Branch. Afterwards, he boarded a heat transport pipe inspection vehicle equipped with a thermal imaging camera to check for leaks in the heat transport pipes, and encouraged related patrol personnel and staff working in the central control room operating 24/7.

An official from the Ministry explained, "The Korea District Heating Corporation Central Branch has long-used heat transport pipes that have been in service for over 20 years, accounting for 58 km out of the total 142 km of pipelines, requiring more thorough inspection and management than other branches."

Vice Minister Jang said, “I appreciate the efforts of the joint public-private inspection team members and participants from various institutions who worked hard for the intensive safety inspection even on a holiday. I ask that you continue to ensure that the safety inspection proceeds smoothly through meticulous inspection of the long-used heat transport pipes during the 2023 Safety Transformation and Intensive Safety Inspection period, which will continue until June.”