Yeosu-si, Public-Led Offshore Wind Power Project Promotion in Full Swing

On the 7th, Yeosu Fisheries Cooperative and Geomundo Fisheries Cooperative Fishermen Representatives Attend

Kick-off Meeting Held for Offshore Wind Power Project Planning Service

Jeonnam Yeosu City (Mayor Jeong Gi-myeong), which is striving to host COP33 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, announced on the 7th that it held a kickoff briefing for the 'Yeosu City Offshore Wind Power Project Plan' service and officially began promoting the public-led offshore wind power project.

The briefing, held in the city hall situation room, was attended by Mayor Jeong Gi-myeong, representatives of fishermen from Yeosu Fisheries Cooperative and Geomundo Fisheries Cooperative, city council members, and heads of related departments.

[Photo by Yeosu City]

Yeosu City is currently conducting a service to establish the 'Yeosu City Offshore Wind Power Project Promotion Plan' by September 2024 with a city budget of 100 million KRW, aiming to create an offshore wind power complex in the Nam-myeon and Samsan-myeon areas through a grand compromise with the local community and fisheries industry as a core pledge of the 8th local government administration.

The executing agency, the Green Energy Research Institute, will participate to analyze the offshore wind power site and development conditions within the jurisdiction, establish the Yeosu City offshore wind power project promotion plan, and prepare plans for government and institutional public offering projects.

At the briefing, Park Ji-hoon, team leader of the Green Energy Research Institute, explained the direction of the service, saying, “Based on the experience of participating in and being selected for the national government public offering project in Shinan, a pioneer in public-led offshore wind power projects, we will create an offshore wind power roadmap tailored to Yeosu’s characteristics in line with government plans and the progress of the Offshore Wind Power Special Act.”

Choi Kwang-oh, chairman of the Yeosu Offshore Wind Power Countermeasure Committee and a representative fisherman of Yeosu Fisheries Cooperative who attended the meeting, said, “Two years ago, we were opposed to the offshore wind power project, but due to changes in domestic and international conditions such as the nuclear power plant contaminated water discharge issue, fishermen’s opinions are changing,” adding, “We hope the project will be promoted systematically, such as by designating energy zones.”

Also, Im Seok-hee, chairman of the Geomundo Offshore Wind Power Countermeasure Committee and a representative fisherman of Geomundo Fisheries Cooperative who attended, requested, “Please establish a plan that fishermen can trust and that can actually lead the offshore wind power project.”

Park Seong-mi, a council member whose constituency includes the offshore wind power project area, said, “I heard that the population increased as young people moved into Shinan,” and requested, “Please establish a plan suitable for Yeosu that attracts population inflow and prepares ways to coexist with villages.”

Song Ha-jin, a council member who proposed and enacted the offshore wind power ordinance in 2021, said, “There has been severe conflict among project operators due to the lack of a clear roadmap until now,” and added, “I hope a harmonious solution will come out through several mediation processes such as interim briefings.”

Mayor Jeong Gi-myeong of Yeosu said, “Yeosu City expects the offshore wind power project as a new growth engine as a leading city in climate change, but has taken a cautious stance due to concerns about fishermen’s damage caused by the encroachment of fishing spaces,” and added, “Having listened to the voices of local residents and fishermen over the past two years, I hope you will prepare a plan for coexistence among fishermen, residents, and others in line with the government’s promotion direction.”