South Korea to phase out 2.6GW of coal by 2021

Samcheonpo units 1&2 are amongst the plants that will be stopped.

As part of its efforts to reduce air pollution, South Korea will decommission six older coal-fired power units with a total capacity of 2.6 GW by 2021, a year before than previously planned. Coal-fired plants to be stopped are Samcheonpo units 1&2 (2x560 MW, operated by KOSEP), Boryeong units 1&2 (2x500 MW, operated by Komipo) as well as Honam units 1&2 (2x250 MW, operated by EWP).

In September 2019, the South Korea government committed to close 6 coal-fired power plants by 2022, in addition to the 4 already shutdown since he took office in 2017. The current administration has also completely suspended the construction of coal-fired power plants in 2017.

In 2018, coal-fired power plants accounted for 29% of South Korea's total installed power capacity and for 44% of South Korea’s power generation. The six power plants to be stopped represent around 8% of the country's total installed coal power capacity (31.7 GW at the end of 2018).