Foreign and Korean power grid experts pose for a group photo at the 9th Seoul International Conference on the 

Electricity Market 2013 (SICEM 2013) at the COEX InterContinental Hotel in Seoul on June 12.

   Korea Power Exchange (KPX) has discussed ways of promoting cooperation in the transfer of electricity technology to developing countries in Asia and Africa as part of its efforts to get a jumpstart in the electricity industry, which has emerged as a future growth engine, and explore overseas electricity projects. 

Under the catchphrase “Cooperative Development in the Electricity Industry for a Better and Happier Earth,” KPX held the 9th Seoul International Conference on the Electricity Market 2013 (SICEM 2013) at the COEX InterContinental Hotel in Seoul on June 12, which highlighted the expanding business opportunities, departing from the previous ones’ focus on policy discussions. 

KPX Chairman & CEO Nam Ho-ki said in his speech, “Despite the continued economic crisis, the global power industry has maintained steady growth, and in particular, the growth momentum in Asian and African electricity industries is outstanding.” He went on to say that this event would serve as an opportunity to promote the exploration of overseas projects based on diverse channels of cooperation among Asian and African policymakers in the power field as well as to pursue shared growth. 

Vice Minister for Trade and Energy Han Jin-hyun said in his speech, “Korea has achieved the Miracle on the Han despite the stark reality that the nation depends on foreign countries for 87 percent of its energy needs, and this feat is owed to the electricity industry, which supplies electricity at cheaper prices and at a steady pace.” He noted that chances are high that Korea can collaborate with Ethiopia, India, Myanmar, and Mongolia, countries rich with resources and whose power demands are on the rise. 

SICEM 2013 brought together Ethiopian, Indian, Mongolian, and Myanmarese officials in charge of the power industry, which touched on each country’s current power infrastructure, major tasks, and ways of promoting cooperation with Korea. 

On the sidelines of SICEM 2013, KPX signed MOUs on sharing its expertise on the establishment of a master plan for the power industry with both the Ethiopian Electric Power Corp. (EEPC) and the National Development Corporation of Mongolia (NDC). The signing of the MOUs came at the request of Ms Maria van der Hoeven, executive director of the International Energy Agency, who visited KPX and requested for the sharing of power industry technology with developing countries. 

Park Jong-in, chief of KPX’s overseas cooperation team, said electricity manpower from Ethiopia will undergo an educational program at KPX International Educational Center in December, and KPX’s expertise on energy management systems will be transferred. Mongolia, which is restructuring the power industry, is asking for consulting services related to the operation of a power exchange and the establishment of rules, he added. 

While speaking at SICEM 2013, Hong Doo-pyo, head of KPX Future Strategy Office, introduced a plan dubbed the “e-Happy Project” to share the expertise KPX has accumulated in the Korean power industry, including the operation of a power system, the operation of a power exchange, power planning, and power IT operations with Asian and African countries. Hong said, “Korea’s non-profit organization KPX is going to proactively share the knowhow we have accounted with Asian and African countries.”   Photos on courtesy of KPX

KPX Chairman & CEO Nam Ho-ki speaks at SICEM 2013.