South Korea seeks to cut public energy consumption by 10 per cent

SEOUL - South Korea’s government will enforce measures to reduce energy consumption by public institutions by 10 per cent starting next month to cope with soaring energy costs, the finance ministry said Friday.

All central and provincial public institutions are required to implement energy-saving steps, such as limiting the indoor temperature of their buildings and turning off exterior lighting, and the results will be reflected to the government's annual management appraisal of the public firms, Yonhap news agency reported the ministry said.

"Given expected high energy demand in winter and Russia's possible reduction in energy supplies, the current energy crisis is feared to continue for the time being," Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho said during an emergency economic ministers' meeting.

The government will also launch a nationwide campaign to encourage people to join the efforts and will strive further to reform the economic structure to achieve energy efficiency, he added.

The government also asked major companies to set their respective energy-saving goals and vowed to push for extending tax incentives for the development of related technologies, according to Yonhap.

Global energy prices have surged over the prolonged war in Ukraine. The price of liquefied natural gas soared to US$55 per million British thermal units in August, compared with US$10 in the first quarter of last year.

The South Korean government also vowed to "normalise" electricity rates and other utility bills to promote efficient energy use and to ensure stable energy supplies by preventing public utility firms from suffering huge losses.

Yonhap reported that earlier in the day, Korea Electric Power Corp. announced its decision to raise the adjusted unit fuel cost -- a key part of the country's electricity rates -- by 2.5 won (US$0.002) per kilowatt hour for the fourth quarter.

It comes on top of the 4.9-won increase the government has already decided to apply from October.

The government also decided to raise natural gas prices for households by 15.9 percent, and those for commercial use will jump up to 17.4 percent.

It also added that during the meeting, Industry Minister Lee Chang-yang likened the current energy situation to the oil shock in the 1970s, and vowed to "mobilise every means available" to overcome the crisis and to achieve energy-efficient economic and industrial structures. - BERNAMA