Launch of Energy Convergence Complex Operation Committee at Naju KEPCO
First among 6 complexes nationwide... 200 Companies Participating
Gwangju City, Jeonnam Province, and KEPCO, three organizations, have launched the nation's first Energy Convergence Complex Operation Committee. [Photo by Jeollanam-do]
The 'Gwangju-Jeonnam Energy Industry Convergence Complex Operation Committee' has been launched to lead the global energy industry.
Gwangju Metropolitan City, Jeollanam-do Province, and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) held the 'Gwangju-Jeonnam Energy Industry Convergence Complex Operation Committee Launch Ceremony' on the afternoon of the 23rd at KEPCO in Naju, Jeonnam. It is the first among the six nationwide complexes designated as convergence complexes. The six complexes include Gwangju-Jeonnam, Saemangeum in Jeonbuk, Gyeongnam, Gyeongbuk, Busan-Ulsan, and Chungbuk.
The launch ceremony was attended by Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung, Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok, KEPCO President Kim Dong-chul, as well as about 200 companies from academia, research, and energy-related industries.
The Energy Industry Convergence Complex Operation Committee is chaired jointly by the Mayor of Gwangju, the Governor of Jeonnam, and the President of KEPCO, and consists of 20 experts from industry, academia, and research in the energy sector. The committee deliberates and decides on fostering key industries such as smart grids, energy efficiency, and wind power, cooperation among industry, academia, research, and government, and proposals for government support.
The committee is a statutory body established and operated under the 'Special Act on the Revitalization of Energy Industry Convergence Complexes,' which was revised and enacted in August.
On the day of the launch, the three institutions announced strategies to revitalize the convergence complex ecosystem, signed cooperation agreements for energy new business investments with six technology holding companies including Korea Venture Investment, and held a business meeting to support energy companies.
Prior to the launch ceremony, the three institutions also signed a 'Memorandum of Understanding on Expanding Production and Distribution of Renewable Energy.'
According to the agreement, Gwangju City, Jeonnam Province, and KEPCO will mutually cooperate to ensure smooth linkage of renewable energy in the Honam region, promote the production and distribution of renewable energy, and expedite the expansion of the power grid. They also plan to form and operate a working-level consultative body to facilitate smooth implementation of cooperative measures.
Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung stated, "This agreement and the launch of the operation committee will turn crisis into opportunity," adding, "Although the government's grid saturation relief measures announced in August are expected to pose challenges to the regional renewable energy industry, we will do our best to transform the renewable energy industry facing crisis into an opportunity by specializing in distributed energy resources."
Governor Kim Young-rok emphasized, "The launch of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Energy Industry Convergence Complex Operation Committee will be an important turning point for regional development and energy industry innovation," and added, "We will actively support the Gwangju-Jeonnam Energy Industry Convergence Complex to leap forward as a global center for energy technology innovation."
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