Minister of Climate, Environment and Energy Kim Sung-hwan [Yonhap]
Minister of Climate, Environment and Energy Kim Sung-hwan [Yonhap]

Power authorities forecast that electricity demand this summer could surpass all-time highs next week as a record-breaking heat wave continues.

The Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy said Minister Kim Sung-hwan on Friday morning visited the Korea Power Exchange in Naju, South Jeolla Province, to review this month's power supply and demand outlook and inspect the operational status of generators, transmission and transformer facilities, emergency response systems by agency, and the status of additional reserve resource procurement.

The meeting was attended by officials from Korea Electric Power Corporation, the Korea Power Exchange, five state-run power generation companies and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power.

According to the Korea Power Exchange, peak power demand on Thursday reached 95.044 GW, up about 2 percent from Wednesday. With the heat expected to continue, demand could surpass the all-time record of 97.1 GW set on Aug. 20, 2024, as most workplaces return from summer vacation next week and industrial activity picks up.

On Jeju, peak demand hit a record 1.1863 GW at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The supply reserve ratio has not yet fallen below 10 percent — a level generally considered stable — and stood at 10.4 percent on Thursday.

Authorities said reserve capacity can be managed stably "as long as there is no unexpected surge in demand or a cascade of generator failures," adding that they have activated emergency systems "to minimize equipment failures and ensure rapid restoration if any do occur."

"Rather than relying solely on past experience, we must closely analyze changes in weather and power demand during this heat wave and be ready to respond immediately even when conditions exceed our projections," Kim said. "We will again verify that response procedures for each scenario — including demand surges and generator failures — are functioning without a hitch on the ground."

He also directed field workers to strictly observe heat safety guidelines, saying "stable power supply can only be sustained when the safety of workers on the ground is ensured," and urged them to avoid strenuous outdoor work and to take adequate rest and adjust working hours accordingly.


oskymoon@heraldcorp.com