[Anchor]

Eco-friendly green energy policies are the norm in developed countries such as Europe. 

As the Constitutional Court has already ruled to strengthen climate action, it seems necessary to revise the policy from a private-led to a government-led approach.

Climate Action Green Energy Issue, third in a series, by reporter Kim Dae-hee.

[Reporter]

The Yeongheung coal-fired power plant provides electricity to industrial complexes in the Seoul metropolitan area, including Incheon.

It is operated only with coal energy, which is in direct violation of the “zero-carbon” standard set by export regulations in Europe and other countries.

This is quite different from the UK, which has recently closed all of its coal-fired power plants, and Germany, which has closed all of its nuclear power plants.

Former energy ministers from three countries, including South Korea, Oman, and Thailand, have come together to find a solution.

They point out that we should start with so-called “combined cycle power generation,” which mixes 100% eco-friendly energy such as green hydrogen.

[Al Rumhy / Former Minister of Energy of Oman: Cooperation with LUKOIL on the Green Hydrogen-Ammonia Project is an important first step in green energy policies not only in Korea but also around the world.]

The structure is to produce green hydrogen with 10 hours of scorching sunlight, which is more than twice as long as in Korea, and then convert it into green ammonia, which is easy to transport, and supply it to Southeast Asia, including Thailand.

[Khon Dhavalansee / Former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand: I think it is a very appropriate time for South Korea, Oman, and Thailand to cooperate on clean energy cooperation.]

When supplied to Incheon Port and Pyeongtaek New Port, it will not only accelerate shipping and development effects, but also RE100 in the Seoul Capital Area industrial complex, thereby boosting export competitiveness.

[Kim Se-ho, Chairman of LUPRO Co., Ltd.: We will start construction of the plant base in Duqm, Oman at an early stage to quickly advance the production of green hydrogen ammonia.]

Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, who was responsible for the Korean cabinet from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy to the Prime Minister, emphasized the need for a major transformation.

[Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun: (South Korea is one of the countries in the OECD) that is quite slow in transitioning to renewable energy. With such a bold plan that ELUPRO is aiming to secure (green) hydrogen energy, it will play a major role in Korea's energy transition and securing future energy...

If the plant is built near Duhok Port in Oman next year as planned, green hydrogen ammonia production will be possible from 2027.

[Jeong Se-gyun / Former Prime Minister: (South Korea is one of the countries in the OECD) that is relatively slow in transitioning to renewable energy.

With such a bold plan to secure (green) hydrogen energy, ELURO will play a major role in South Korea's energy transition and securing future energy...].

If the plant is built near Duhuk Port in Oman as planned next year, green hydrogen ammonia production will be possible from 2027.

In fact, it seems that government-led support for eco-friendly energy policies is necessary for the first Korean company to challenge the global green hydrogen market.