The number of city gas-using families in Korea has surpassed 16.58 million, while the average urban gas supply rate nationwide increased 1.2 percentage points to 79 percent as of the end of 2015, up from 77.8 percent in 2014.
As a result of surveys of urban gas supply status by local autonomous body across the nation, there were 16.58 million urban gas-using families. Among them, the number of families receiving city gas in the capital area rose to 9.27 million, 150,000 more than 2014, at a supply rate of 90.7 percent. Nevertheless, the annual city gas supply rate growth for the metropolitan area increased only 0.6 percentage point from the end of 2014.
The survey was conducted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy, based on the total number of families, 21.01 million.
While the increase in urban gas-using families in provincial areas by over 300,000 households to 7.32 million due to new demand growth, the supply rate reached 67.9 percent, up 1.8 percentage point from 2014. In terms of the city gas-using family ratio, the capital sphere and provincial areas posted 55.9 percent and 44.1 percent, respectively, as the number of city-gas using families in the capital sphere is over 1.95 million higher.
On May 26, KGS held a business explanatory session at its Seoul District Head Office to support overseas exports by domestic enterprises. With a focus on the acquisition of overseas certifications for portable butane gas ranges and butane cans, in particular, KGS invited experts of CSA, a North American certification agency, and SZU, a European certification agency, to the explanatory session and advised domestic companies on certificate acquisition procedures and market information.
After being designated as an authorized testing agency of Australia's AGA last year, KGS will be able to support the acquisition of certifications in major overseas markets.
Nine manufacturers of portable butane gas ranges, three manufacturers of butane cans and two manufacturers of flexible metal hoses for gas participated in the session and active discussions while expressing great interest in acquiring overseas certifications.
With the session as momentum, KGS plans to monitor the export preparation status of domestic manufacturers, organize appropriate export support programs and implement manpower arrangements through the expansion of exchanges with those hoping to export.
Executive Director of Gas Safety Management Park Jang-Sik said, "KGS will take the lead and do its best so that domestic products can receive recognition as world-class goods, since many domestic products already have world-leading quality and global competitiveness." He added, "Since the equipment, manpower, etc. of KGS have been recognized by overseas certification agencies as global-standard infrastructure, I hope domestic companies will utilize them as much as possible."
The Korea Gas Safety Corporation (KGS), a governmental inspection body, was founded as the High Pressure Gas Safety Institute, devoting itself to making the people be aware of gas safety and improving gas safety technology by fulfilling the mission of securing the life and property of the people from dangerous gas incidents.
KGS is a governmental testing, inspection, and education organization under the control of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE). The role of KGS, whose existence and functions derive from the 3 Gas Law, including the High Pressure Gas Safety Management Law; the LP Gas safety and Business Management Law; and the City Gas Business Law, is responsible for drawing up the draft of the above 3 Gas Laws for enactment or revision.
The major activities which KGS has continuously promoted to prevent gas incidents are checks and inspections of facilities, education and training to nurture advanced technical man-power, publicity campaigns to foster safety culture among the people, and exchanges of technical information with foreign gas related organizations.
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