Geographical Conditions and Natural Environment
Outstanding Economic Feasibility, the Ideal Site
Hapcheon County in Gyeongnam Province is focusing all administrative efforts on attracting the nation’s first and largest twin pumped storage power plants. Building on the momentum from being selected as the final candidate site for the Dumusan Pumped Storage Power Plant in 2023, the county is now aiming to attract the Odosan Pumped Storage Power Plant this year.
The Odosan candidate site is located right next to the Dumusan site, offering excellent economic feasibility in terms of construction and management costs. If the twin pumped storage power plants are established, they are expected to create jobs, revitalize the local economy, increase the population and tourist numbers, and boost development funds and tax revenue, providing a breakthrough solution to population decline and economic stagnation caused by low birth rates and aging demographics.
Odosan, which spans the Apgok-ri area of Bongsan-myeon in Hapcheon County, closely resembles Dumusan in terms of its natural environment. With an elevation of around 1,100 meters, steep slopes, and deep valleys, the terrain allows for the creation of large-scale reservoirs, and its bedrock composition makes it an optimal site for a pumped storage power plant.
The Dumusan Pumped Storage Power Plant was selected as the priority project operator at the end of 2023 according to the 10th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand. With an investment of 1.8 trillion KRW, it will be equipped with an eco-friendly energy generation facility with a capacity of 900 MW. After sequential administrative procedures such as a preliminary feasibility study by public institutions, power generation business permits, and detailed design in the first half of this year, construction is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2027 and be completed by December 2034.
Odosan, located in the Apgok-ri area of Bongsan-myeon, Hapcheon County, is similar to Dumusan in terms of natural environment and bedrock composition, making it an optimal site for a pumped storage power plant. The Odosan Pumped Storage Power Plant is also a large-scale national project, befitting the name "twin pumped storage power plants," with an investment of over 1.8 trillion KRW and a capacity of 900 MW, identical to Dumusan.
Hapcheon County expects that the construction of the twin pumped storage power plants will generate significant synergy in terms of economic feasibility and efficiency, thanks to reduced maintenance costs from shared underground facilities and more efficient management and operation. Considering government plans, project timing, and the aspirations of local residents, the county believes now is the optimal time to attract the twin pumped storage power plants.
Based on the "Act on Support for Areas Surrounding Power Plants," economic support and regional economic revitalization from facility construction are expected. With more than 50 years of operation possible, the plants are highly regarded as "large-scale clean energy storage devices" due to their safety and economic viability. As a result, many local governments nationwide, including Hadong and Geochang in Gyeongnam and Jinan in Jeonbuk, are expected to join the competition to attract pumped storage projects to boost their local economies.
To attract new pumped storage power plants, resident acceptance, including local consent, is most important. Even if a site is optimal for construction, the justification for attraction cannot be guaranteed if residents oppose it.
To secure resident acceptance, Hapcheon County has been working since the second half of 2023 to improve understanding and address questions about the Odosan Pumped Storage Power Plant project among local residents. This includes holding four project briefings for Bongsan-myeon residents (207 participants), ten on-site village briefings (239 participants), and nine plant tours (269 participants).
To enhance resident acceptance and support for the large-scale national eco-friendly pumped storage project, Hapcheon County is concentrating all administrative efforts on exemplary construction through systematic and efficient administrative support and mutually beneficial cooperation, drawing on the successful experience of attracting the Dumusan Pumped Storage Power Plant.
According to the "Act on Support Projects for Areas Surrounding Power Plants," a total of approximately 82.5 billion KRW in support funds will be provided, including 21 billion KRW in special support during construction, 35.4 billion KRW in basic support during the construction and operation periods (about 60 years), and 26.1 billion KRW in business support. These funds will be used to increase income, improve public social welfare, support resident welfare, foster local talent, promote regional economic cooperation, and support local cultural events.
In addition, the construction is expected to have a significant impact on the local economy and population growth, with an estimated 2 trillion KRW in production, income, and value-added effects and the creation of over 8,000 jobs. The establishment of the twin pumped storage power plants in Hapcheon is expected to lead to further population inflow through the relocation of partner company personnel and job creation for local residents, as well as the development of new tourist attractions, resolution of water shortages, establishment of regionally tailored SOC, and improvement of the local environment.
Along with existing cultural and tourism resources such as Odosan Natural Recreation Forest, Dumusan Natural Recreation Forest, Hapcheon Lake, Hwangmaesan, Gayasan, Haeinsa Temple, and the Film Theme Park, the pumped storage power plants are expected to serve as a strong foundation for discovering new types of complex tourist destinations that can be linked to these facilities.
Residents who participated in the village briefings and tours said, "We have come to deeply understand the necessity of attracting a pumped storage power plant to our region," and added, "To respond to local economic and population decline, we will take the lead in attracting the Odosan Pumped Storage Power Plant to Hapcheon so that the twin pumped storage power plants can bring new vitality to our area."
County Governor Kim Yooncheol stated, "We will do our utmost together with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power to attract the Odosan Pumped Storage Power Plant and overcome the crisis of regional extinction by uniting the hearts and minds of Bongsan-myeon and Hapcheon residents. I hope that residents of Bongsan-myeon and the county will actively participate so that we can attract the nation's first and largest twin pumped storage power plants through the unity of the public and private sectors."
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