People ask audit on new coal plant
Members of the Korean Federation for Environmental Movement (KFEM) stage a protest in front of the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) in Seoul after submitting a request to review the government’s recent approval of a new coal power plant in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province, Wednesday. /Yonhap
By Kim Se-jeong
Heavy fine dust over the Korean Peninsula has made many headlines in recent weeks, threatening the fate of a new coal-fired power plant to be built in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province.
On Thursday, the Korean Federation for Environmental Movement (KFEM), the country’s biggest environmental NGO, requested the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) to inspect the energy ministry over its recent decision to give a final approval to a new coal power plant.
“Air pollution by fine dust is the biggest threat to public health in Korea. Instead of coming up with measures to curb fine dust emissions, the government is moving in the opposite direction,” KFEM said in a statement on Wednesday in front of the BAI headqurters in Seoul. “The decision to approve Dangjin Eco Power’s plant is a prime example of this.”
The ministry approved the plan on April 3, arguing that it is needed to meet the country’s growing energy demand. Dangjin Eco Power does not have the support from residents. Dangjin’s mayor and South Chungcheong Province’s governorhave also expressed their opposition. Residents are growingly worried that the power plant will put their health in deeper jeopardy — Dangjin is home to 10 up and running coal power plants. Amid growing criticism, the government explained earlier this week it had no authority to stop the construction. Greenpeace Korea’s report last year said the power plant could cause 70 premature deaths per year in Korea and neighboring countries.
Many view the government should let the next leader decide the plant’s future. Two leading contenders — Moon Jae-in and Ahn Cheol-soo — are opposed to the plan. The Moon camp said he will halt and review the Dangjin Eco Power project, while Ahn said the power plant project will be stopped.
Many view the new power plant as another example of the government’s failed environment policies. Although most fine dust is generated by industry, the government’s policies were focused on encouraging people to ride clean-energy vehicles and discouraging people from grilling mackerel at home to cope with the dust.
They also argue the government’s policy had the wrong priority which is to give industries cheap electricity, insisting that it should regulate them to keep air pollution under control.
Fine dust is the main culprit for deteriorating air quality in Korea. Some comes from China, but experts say a big portion of it is generated by the power plants and factories along the West Coast where Dangjin is located. Dangjin alone has 10 coal power plants operating on its coast and South Chungcheong Province has 29. Korea currently has 59 coal power plants.