Consultative Body to Transition into Working-Level Committee
Managing Key Issues in Renewable Energy Expansion and Power Grid Development
The government is accelerating the construction of key national infrastructure by launching an inter-ministerial cooperation system ahead of the implementation of the "Special Act on the Expansion of National Backbone Power Grids."
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held an "inter-ministerial consultative body on power grids" at the Government Complex Seoul on the 22nd, discussing the preparations for the law's implementation and collaborative tasks among ministries.
This consultative body was established to ensure the smooth implementation of the special act, which is scheduled to take effect on September 26. The meeting was chaired by Lee Ho-hyun, the Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and attended by officials from eight ministries-Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and Korea Forest Service-as well as Korea Electric Power Corporation.
The government has defined the power grid as the lifeblood of the national economy and an essential foundation for people's lives, designating the "energy highway" as a key project for stable renewable energy supply and the development of national high-tech strategic industries. Last month, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy established the "Energy Highway Promotion Team" within the Power Policy Bureau, and with the launch of this inter-ministerial consultative body, the government has further strengthened its implementation system.
In a public report released by the National Policy Planning Committee on August 13, "energy highway construction" was specified as one of the 12 major strategic tasks. Through this initiative, the government aims to achieve both economic growth and carbon neutrality.
During the consultative body meeting, the designation targets for the national backbone power grid under the special act were reviewed. These targets include facilities designated by the Power Grid Committee among transmission and substation facilities of 345kV or higher, which supply electricity to national high-tech strategic industry clusters or provide electricity generated from renewable energy and nuclear power. The meeting also focused on issues that require joint efforts from relevant ministries, such as securing sites, permits and approvals, regulatory improvements, and joint construction of social overhead capital (SOC).
The results of the discussions will be finalized as detailed implementation plans after deliberation and resolution at the first meeting of the Power Grid Committee, which will be chaired by the Prime Minister at the end of next month. Afterwards, the consultative body will transition into a working-level committee chaired by the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to continuously manage ongoing issues in line with the implementation of the special act.
Starting with this consultative body, the government plans to establish the legal and institutional foundation and inter-ministerial cooperation system necessary for the construction of the "energy highway," thereby accelerating the expansion of the power grid needed for the growth of renewable energy and national high-tech industries.
Vice Minister Lee stated, "The expansion of the national backbone power grid is a process that involves complex issues among residents, the central government, local governments, and related agencies, so mutual understanding and communication are more important than ever." He added, "Even if there are differences in the laws and administrative procedures under the jurisdiction of each ministry, please work together with a sense of responsibility as key players in the innovation of national infrastructure to fulfill the government's policy tasks."
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