The Korea Gas Corporation began building a natural gas supply system in Jeju this month. Proponents say the system will be a net-positive for the local environment, but that its benefits are tied to the speed at which authorities can get the system up and running. Mike Laidman reports.
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Demand for LNG power plant has existed since 2006

Jeju islanders have been clamoring for LNG power plants to maintain a stable energy supply since blackouts starting hitting the country due to high autumn temperatures in September 2006.

Now at last this month, after 10 years of challenges and failed starts, the Korea Gas Corporation began building a natural gas supply system in Jeju.

The facilities will be used to supply natural gas to the whole island from the LNG terminal at Aewol Harbor in Jeju City.

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\260b won earmarked for 240 MW/day power generation

The plants will sit on some 35,000 square meters of land in the Jeju Thermoelectric Power Plant in (삼양동) Samyang-dong. Expected costs are 260 billion won.

Once complete, the system will be able to create around 240 megawatts of electricity per day, enough to cover 20% of Jeju’s power needs.

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LNG produces ‘cleaner’ power

LNG-based power plants emit less fine dust and CO2 than their thermal counterparts.

Won Heeryong / Governor
We should find alternatives to fossil fuel-based power generation to reduce fine dust. Currently, the best alternative is natural gas. This power plant will contribute to our ‘Carbon-Free Island’ project.
< 원희룡 / 제주특별자치도지사 >
미세먼지를 줄이기 위해서는 화석 연료에 의한 발전들을 줄여가야 합니다. 그 유일한 대안은 천연가스일 수 밖에 없다고 보고 있습니다. 착공하는 이 발전소는 카본프리 아일랜드로 가는데 서로 보완적인 관계 속에서 가야 될 파트너다.

The completion of the LNG power plant is scheduled for June, 2018.

The whole system, however, won’t be operational until about August, 2019 because the island-wide pipe system will take about three years to complete.

This means that the new LNG power plant will not be able to produce any electricity for 14 months.

Jeong Chang-gil / Chair, Korea Midland Power Company
We have had to adopt a dual-system for the new facilities. Diesel will be used for power until the pipe system is complete in 2019.
< 정창길 / 한국중부발전 사장 >
불가피하게 전력 공급을 위해 듀얼타입의 설비를 들여와서 발전하게 됩니다. LNG 가스가 들어올 기간까지는 임시로 경유로 발전해서…

Kim Dong-ju / Energy Democracy Center
If the construction of the LNG terminal is delayed, the island will benefit less from the project.
< 김동주 / 에너지민주주의센터(준) 박사 >
인수기지 건설이 늦어지는 만큼 도민이 얻을 편익이 줄어들게 됩니다.

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Moon Ho-seong

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Mike Laidman

Groundbreaking for the LNG power plant has given hope for more eco-friendly power generation on Jeju Island.

With construction started, the question now turns to the province coming up with solutions to advance the completion of the LNG terminal and pipe system.

Mike Laidman, KCTV