KOSEP Gets
Presidential Award

For innovative operation of its coal-fire power plant

The 22nd Kyunghyang Electricity, Energy Grand Award Nov. 8 this year presented the Presidential Award to Korea South-East Power Co. Youngdong Power Plant. Prime Minister's Award went to the Korea Western Power Co. Pyeongtaik Power Plant headquarters in the category of power generation and Korea Water Resources Corp. in the category of general energy and LS Cable Co. electric wire headquarters in the manufacturer category. The Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy Award went to Korea Southern Power Co. in the category of power generation.
Chairman & CEO of Korea Electric Power Co. Han Joon-ho, in his speech at the award ceremony, said the Kyunghyang Electricity, Energy Grand Award hosted by the Kyunghyang Daily News and the KEPCO celebrates its 22nd anniversary this year and has contributed greatly to the development of power industry and the energy business community by finding out the best energy saving practices, upgrading energy use effectiveness in the area of the energy production and consumption.
He said some 270 companies that received the award have grown to become a core growth leader in Korea's energy industry and the seeds dropped by the award would continue to make contribution to the technology reform and pan-national energy saving spirit expansion nationwide, he hoped.
Vice Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy Lee Won-gul, in his speech, said the electric power industry helped the rapid growth of our economy which is the 12th largest economy in the world with the power generation capacity of 6,500 million Kw. The phenomenal growth is owed to all of you in the power and energy industries, who worked hard shedding sweat tirelessly, he said.
The high oil prices have been sending alarms to South Korea, the world's 10th largest oil consumer and importer of 87 percent of its oil required, on such matters as stable securing of oil, energy savings and effective use of fuel and reform of oil technology. With the development of IT technology,
the power industry has also benefited from the situation and has found a new growth engine with the support of the IT technology. The government plans to pour some 250 billion won into the development of the power IT industry during 2005 and 2011. The government has also been making efforts to the development of energy from wind, solar power, and hydrogen ― new and renewable energy projects to which we will welcome your participation and support.
Rep. Lee Yoon-song, chairman of the National Assembly Commerce, Industry and Energy Committee, in his congratulatory speech, said the national competitiveness amid stable growth is owed to contribution made by power and energy industry people. This award has been finding and awarding those who made contribution to the development of the power industry and environment-friendly energy use. He would like to take the opportunity to salute those involved with the award in over the past two decades to open the hopeful future and the development of the power and energy industry.
Stable supply of energy is now needed more than ever with North Korea holding a nuclear test, inviting UN sanctions and igniting tension among its neighboring countries including China, Japan, Russia and the United State. In order for Korea to be a strong advanced country, it needs to reduce dependence on imported energy, securing stable energy sources and develop new and renewable energy and environment-friendly energy and the development of new technology to boost the effective use of energy. The future of the country is in your hands and all of you should be proud of the new mission and work hard make progress in achieving your new mission, remembering always in your minds that our country imports some $40 billion worth of energy with the self-sufficiency ratio of oil and gas less than 3 percent per year. nw

(from top) A view of the 22nd Kyunghyang Electricity-Energy Grand Award ceremony. Vice Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy for energy Lee Won-gul delivers a speech at the ceremony. Manager Kim Bok-dong of the KOSEP Youngdong Power Plant receives the Presidential Award from MOCIE Vice Minister Lee Won-gul. Acting Manager Kim Soon-sik of the KOSEP Bundang Power Plant receives the MOCIE Minister's Award.