Dignitaries, including KEPCO President Kim Jong-kap, Rep. Byun Jae-il, gestures as they participated in a ceremony to dedicate the 765kV Shinjungbu Transformer Station & Transmission Line in Ochang-eup, Cheongju City, Chungcheongbuk-do, on Sept. 25. (Photo: KEPCO)

Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) held a ceremony to dedicate the 765kV Shinjungbu Transformer Station & Transmission Line in Ochang-eup, Cheongju City, Chungcheongbuk-do, on Sept. 25.

Among about 150 people on hand at the event were KEPCO President Kim Jong-kap, Rep. Byun Jae-il, and officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), Cheongju City governments.

Starting with a process report of the project by the head of KEPCO’s Jungbu Construction Division, who is responsible for the work, the event proceeded with commemorative or congratulatory speeches, and an awards ceremony and ceremonial performance.

The Shinjungbu Transformer Station & Transmission Line project cost a cumulative 252.8 billion won with 100,000 crew members. It involved the construction of a 765kV transmission line connecting Shinseosan and Shinanseong and a 345kV transmission line linking Shinjincheon and Namcheongju.

The project is designed to cope with power demand related to the development of industry facilities in the Chungcheongbuk-do area and problems related to low voltage, caused by the distance between power plants and power consumers.

A specialized process management task force was formed to advance the construction to meet a rising power demand and reinforced site management reduced the construction period by 11 months compared to the standard 765kV construction process. The transformer station & transmission line was put into commercial operation May 30.

The dedication of the 765kV Shinjungbu Transformer Station & Transmission Line has capped the construction of a 765kV power grid artery. It is expected to contribute to stabilizing the power grid in the Jungbu sphere and reducing 40 billion won in power grid losses by narrowing the power transmission distance to the Dangjin, Taean, and Borung thermal power complexes.

The project has become an exemplary practice of solving social conflicts through candid dialogue and communications with neighborhood residents starting from the selection of the site.

A protracted stand-off over the construction of a transmission line in Milyang had made 765kV power facilities the subject of boycotts among neighborhood residents. Residents of the four candidate sites put up opposition to the construction of the Shinjungbu Transformer Station & Transmission Line.

The Ochang-eup area became the finalized site through objective and transparent site selection.

A residents’ resting area in which KEPCO officials are stationed was opened to reveal the whole process of selecting the site and communicate with neighborhood residents.

KEPCO implemented its first projects to improve residents’ living conditions and support them by helping farmers overcome drought and repairing or replacing old power facilities.

Selecting a site for the project and reaching a deal with neighborhood residents took 10 months, the shortest period in 765kV transmission line construction history.

The project was designated as a good practice of solving social conflicts in June 2016 by the President Commission for National Cohesion, citing efforts to solve social disputes via horizontal decision-making structure and the implementing of support projects.

KEPCO President Kim said, “Reducing its construction period by 22 months was possible thanks to a deep trust, demonstrated by neighborhood residents.”

He also extended thanks to interested parties who have understood the significance of the facilities and proactively supported it.