[Heavy Industry ON] Wind Power Industry Ahead of Chairman Election... Supply Chain Issues Resurface

Views inside and outside the industry are divided over who should become the next chairman of the Korea Wind Energy Industry Association. As Myeongun Industrial Development has thrown its hat into the ring, some parties are voicing concern.

According to industry sources on the 26th, the association plans to hold a board meeting on the 27th to conduct a vote to elect the next chairman. Myeongun Industrial Development is reported to be expressing a strong intention to take the post. If the agenda passes at this board meeting, CEO Kim Ganghak of Myeongun Industrial Development will assume the role of the eighth chairman of the association after the regular general meeting in March.

However, some in the industry are calling for caution. They argue that, because the energy industry is directly linked to national energy security and supply chains, past controversies that arose during the company’s business activities must be thoroughly reviewed.

An offshore wind substructure manufactured by SK Ocean Plant is installed at the Changhua County offshore wind farm in western Taiwan. The Asia Business Daily DB

Myeongun Industrial Development previously faced controversy for using some Chinese-made equipment when promoting the Nakwol offshore wind power project in Yeonggwang, South Jeolla Province. For the turbines, it applied a model from a company acquired by Goldwind, a Chinese state-owned turbine manufacturer, and for the external subsea cable connecting offshore and onshore, it used products from Chinese firm Hengtong Optic-Electric.

There was also a case at the time in which a Chinese-flagged installation vessel carried out work without prior government approval, was caught by the Korea Coast Guard, and led to a temporary suspension of construction. During this process, suspicions were raised over whether Chinese capital was involved in the project.

Myeongun Industrial Development applied once for the association chairmanship in January, but the recommendation committee issued a disapproval decision. The company is known to have applied again in the reopened recruitment.

A wind power industry official said, “Because the association’s chairman represents the industry, symbolism and messaging are crucial,” adding, “At a time when strengthening the domestic supply chain has emerged as a key task, there needs to be sufficient consensus among industry members.”

In response, a representative of Myeongun Industrial Development said, “We are in the final stage of reviewing whether to run for the chairmanship,” and added, “Nothing has been decided yet.”

The current selection process is expected to develop into a broader discussion, beyond the issues of a single company, over what direction the domestic wind power industry will choose in terms of supply chains and the industrial ecosystem.