“Pyeongtaek coal plant to close, workers face uncertain future”, December 2 2024

[Unofficial translation provided by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

…South Korea's transition plan for closing coal-fired power plants appears to be in disarray, with many other types of power plants—including those using heavy oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and combined heat and power—left without clear policy direction.

…According to a report from Labor Today , the Pyeongtaek Power Plant, consisting of Units 1–4, located in Pyeongtaek, will cease operations on 31st October. This closure is part of a larger national plan to reduce the use of coal in energy production…

…While the closure of coal power plants accelerates, the issue of transitioning workers has yet to be adequately addressed by the government. Both the Ministry of Employment and Labour and the Economic, Social, and Labour Council had promised to form committees to discuss industrial transitions, but progress has been slow.

Lee Heon-seok, policy officer at the Energy Justice Action group, stated, “The transition plans for other non-coal plants, including heavy oil and LNG power stations, are in a policy blind spot amid the push for carbon neutrality.”