Recently, multiple sources reported that expansion of mine mining and construction of new and renewable energy facilities are actively underway, especially in North Korea’s South Pyongan Province and South Hamgyong Province. This is interpreted as a move in accordance with the decision of the 11th plenary session of the 8th Labor Party to strengthen resource development and new and renewable energy projects for economic independence.
On the 15th, a Daily NK source from South Pyongan Province said, “In the province, modernization of mining facilities and expansion of mining areas have been in progress since the 8th in accordance with the January administrative order of the cabinet appointed earlier this month,” adding, “The main target is iron ore and coal. “The goal is to restore economic vitality by increasing resource production,” he said.
According to sources, this modernization project is aimed at improving existing old and inefficient facilities and manual methods. This means that the core of this project is to introduce equipment with automated technology to increase work speed and secure as many mined resources as possible.
A source from South Hamgyong Province also said, “The Cabinet’s January administrative directive was issued early this month, focusing on increasing mining of major resources such as phosphorus, zinc, and magnesium shack linker.” This source explained that the cabinet’s strategy is to strengthen the economic base by stimulating foreign currency earning through resource development.
Meanwhile, North Korea is accelerating not only resource development but also construction of new and renewable energy facilities.
It is said that South Pyongan Province has designated the construction of small and medium-sized hydroelectric power plants as a key project this year to address the power demand of energy-deprived areas and local factories.
Additionally, in South Hamgyong Province, a solar power generation facility installation project began on the 7th, focusing on local factories and newly built rural homes.
A source from South Hamgyong Province said, “In accordance with the Cabinet’s January administrative directive, the Provincial People’s Committee is giving instructions to each institution to build renewable energy facilities and emphasizing the importance of this.” He added, “The renewable energy expansion project is linked to local development policy. “It is important business,” he said.
However, it has been reported that there is a response within North Korea regarding this cabinet directive, saying, “It must be supported by realistic measures and practical support.”
The Cabinet’s position is that expanding resource production and improving power supply can not only increase foreign currency earnings but also substantially contribute to stabilizing the lives of residents. However, voices on the ground say that there are many problems that the government must actively solve to achieve this goal. This means that is coming out.
In fact, a source from South Pyongan Province pointed out, “In the case of small and medium-sized hydroelectric power plants, there is a limitation in that generators cannot be operated in the winter because the rivers freeze. Alternatives to this problem are also needed.”
A source from South Hamgyong Province said, “In order to expand solar energy generation, large-scale solar panels (panels) are needed to be installed, but it is not easy for the province to cover all of them.” He added, “We are hoping that the government will install more solar panels for free.”
Among domestic experts, doubts are being raised as to whether North Korea’s policy is effective.
Shin Jeong-soo, a researcher at the Korea Energy Economics Institute, told Dong-A Ilbo, “North Korea’s small and medium-sized power plant policy is an energy policy that has been promoted since the 1990s, but there are no cases where it has substantially contributed to the supply of electricity due to poor management and resource distribution issues.” He added, “This policy also appears to be due to the nature of the system.” “It is highly likely that it will end up being a periodic process,” he said.
Regarding North Korea’s solar power generation policy, Research Fellow Shin said, “North Korea claims to be producing 30 megawatts of electricity annually with solar panels made by Kim Il-sung University’s Solar Cell Research Institute and Mokran Gwangmyeong Company, but the panel production He said, “We are dependent on Chinese parts, and large-scale procurement is difficult due to sanctions against North Korea. Even if the authorities distribute self-made solar panels, it seems difficult to achieve practical results.”
Source: www.dailynk.com
