Kang Kyung-sung, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, chaired a safety inspection meeting on energy and industrial facilities related to the heavy rain at the Government Sejong Complex on the afternoon of the 16th, urging thorough response measures.
Due to the heavy rain over the weekend, concerns have increased regarding the safety of energy facilities such as the overflow of the Goesan Dam, a power generation dam, and power outages in some households, as well as potential damage to major industrial facilities including industrial complexes.
In the case of Goesan Dam, where overflow occurred the previous morning raising concerns about flooding in downstream areas, the water level has already dropped below the planned flood level, and considering weather forecasts, it is expected to continue decreasing. Accordingly, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy accepted the release recommendation from Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (at 9:26 a.m.) and lifted the crisis alert level from 'Caution' at 9:42 a.m. on the 16th according to the relevant manual.
The Ministry activated the Central Accident Response Headquarters, headed by the Minister, at 5:17 a.m. on the 15th when the water level of Goesan Dam rose above the planned flood level, and has been operating a 24-hour emergency duty system centered on the Office of Electricity Policy. Although the crisis alert has been lifted, the Ministry and KHNP will maintain the emergency response system and promptly implement necessary measures depending on the situation.
At this countermeasure meeting, the damage status and equipment management of key energy infrastructure such as power facilities and city gas, rain-vulnerable facilities such as mountain solar power plants, and core industrial facilities including major industrial complexes were also inspected. According to the Ministry, about 37,000 households experienced power outages since the 13th due to damage to distribution facilities such as substations and power lines caused by the heavy rain. Among them, restoration has been completed for 36,000 households, accounting for 98.7% (as of 6 a.m. on the 16th). Restoration work for the remaining outage households will proceed promptly as soon as road conditions and other circumstances allow.
Vice Minister Kang said, "Energy such as electricity and gas causes great inconvenience to people's lives even if supply is interrupted for a moment, so please engage in thorough equipment safety management." He added, "We must not relax vigilance regarding the situation of Goesan Dam where overflow occurred, keep a close watch, and make every effort to provide necessary support until residents can safely return."
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