Energy in North Korea

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Pyongchon Thermal Power Station generates electricity for central Pyongyang. Pyongchon Thermal Power Station (Mangyong Hill).jpg
Pyongchon Thermal Power Station generates electricity for central Pyongyang.

Energy in North Korea describes energy and electricity production, consumption and import in North Korea.

Contents

North Korea is a net energy exporter. Primary energy use in North Korea was 224 TWh and 9 TWh per million people in 2009. [1] The country's primary sources of power are hydro and coal after Kim Jong Il implemented plans that saw the construction of large hydroelectric power stations across the country. [2]

According to The World Bank, in 2021, 52.63% of North Korea’s population had access to electricity. [3] Many households are restricted to 2 hours' power per day due to priority being given to manufacturing plants. [4] [5] [6]

Overview

Imagery of the Korean Peninsula at night, showing that North Korea is in almost complete darkness due to a lack of electricity Korean Peninsula at night from space.jpg
Imagery of the Korean Peninsula at night, showing that North Korea is in almost complete darkness due to a lack of electricity
Energy in North Korea [8]
CapitaPrim. energyProductionExportElectricityCO2-emission
MillionTWhTWhTWhTWhMt
200422.38237223-1518.5070.20
200723.782142291518.1262.32
200823.86236242619.5469.37
200923.912242361217.7666.20
201224.4518.2164.82
2012R24.761642367216.2045.42
201324.9016828011216.4447.68
Change 2004-096.8%-5.4%5.5%--4.0%-5.7%
Mtoe = 11.63 TWh, Prim. energy includes energy losses that are 2/3 for nuclear power [9]

2012R = CO2 calculation criteria changed, numbers updated

Per capita electricity consumption

According to statistics compiled by the South Korean agency, Statistics Korea, based on International Energy Agency (IEA) data, per capita electricity consumption fell from its peak in 1990 of 1247 kilowatt hours to a low of 712 kilowatt hours in 2000. It has slowly risen since to 819 kilowatt hours in 2008, a level below that of 1970. [10] [11]

In 2017 many homes were using small standalone photovoltaic systems. [12] [13] In 2019 it was estimated 55% of North Korean households used solar panels. [14]

By 2019, electricity production had reached a level where any supply blackouts were of relatively short durations. [15]

Oil imports

North Korea imports crude oil from a pipeline that originates in Dandong, China. The crude oil is refined at the Ponghwa Chemical Factory in Sinuiju, North Korea. [16] North Korea has a smaller oil refinery, the Sŭngri Refinery, on its Russian border. The country had been able to import oil from China and the Soviet Union for below market prices, but with the end of the Cold War, these deals were not renewed, leading to an explosive rise in oil prices for Pyongyang and a drop in imports. [17]

North Korea imports jet fuel, diesel fuel, and gasoline from two refineries in Dalian, China, which arrive at the North Korean port of Nampo. [16]

Power facilities

North Korea is reliant on hydro power, which leads to shortages in winter, when there is little rainfall and ice blocks the flow of rivers. [4] [2] Power plants that were never completed/ started up are shown in  Salmon 

NameLocationInstalled

capacity

Notes
Huichon Hydroelectric Power Station Huichon 300 MWAllegedly fails to generate power at full capacity due to harsh weather. [2]
Sup'ung Dam Yalu River 630 MW [18] [Note 1] Units 3, 6, 7 generate power to North Korea at 60 Hz; unit 2 can generate either for China or North Korea. [19] The power plant is operated by North Korea. Seven 90 MW units. [18]
Unbong Dam Yalu River430 MW [20] [Note 1] Units 2, 4 supply power to North Korea at 60 Hz. The power plant is operated by North Korea. [20]
Taipingwan Dam Yalu River190 MW [21] Operated by China. [21]
Wiwon Dam Yalu River222.5 MW [22]
Kumyagang Power Station No.2 Kumya County 7.5 MW [23]
Kumyagang Army-People Power Station Kumya County large [24]
Yonsan Yonsan County small2 small generators [25]
Tanchon Power Station No.1 to 6 Tanchon small to mediumseries of 6 small to medium size hydropower stations. [26]
Hungju Youth Hydroelectric Power Station No. 1 to 3 Kanggye smallseries of 3 small hydropower stations. [27]
Jangjagang Hydroelectric Power Station Manpo 90 MW [28] series of small hydropower stations. [27]
Pukchon Kanggyesmallsmall hydropower stations. [29]
Kanggye Youth Power StationKanggye224.6 MW [28]
Paektusan Hero Youth Power stationSodusu Riverlargeseries of 3 power hydropower stations. [30]
Taechon Hydroelectric Power StationTaeryong River746 MW [28] Series of hydropower plants on the Taeryong River. [27]
Taeryong Hydroelectric Power Stationsmall to medium
Huchang Mine No. 4 Power Station Kimhyongjik County smallBuilt to support Huchang mine. [31]
Pukchang Thermal Power Complex Pukchang County 1600 MWHighest generation capacity of power plants in North Korea. [32]
Pyongyang Thermal Power Plant Pyongchon-guyok 700 MW [33]
Kangdong Thermal Power Plant Kangdong County between 100 and 300 MW [34] Construction began in late 2010, but stalled sometime after 2014
Sunchon Thermal Power Plant Sunchon 210 MW [28]
Sonbong Thermal Electric Power Plant Sonbong-guyok 200 MWOriginally named Unggi Thermoelectric Power Plant, and powered by heavy fuel oil from Sŭngri Petrochemical Complex. Rebuilt to use coal from 2015. [35] Also known as 6.16 Power Station. [28]
Nyongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center – experimental light-water reactor Nyongbyon County 20 MW [36] Possibly began operations around October 2023. [37]
Korean Energy Development Organisation – two light water reactors. Sinpo 2000 MWAbandoned due to US withdrawal from Agreed Framework. [36]
March 17 Power Plant Chongjin

(Unit 1)

200 MW [28]
Puryong County (Unit 2, 3)310 MW [28]
Chongjin Thermal Power Plant Chongjin 150 MWSupplies to industry, such as the Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex. [28]
Hochongang Power Station Hochon County 40.6 MWseries of hydroelectric stations on the Hochon river. [28]
Changjingang Power Station Yonggwang County 34.7 MWseries of hydroelectric stations on the Changjin river. [28]
Puryong Power StationPuryong County32 MWseries of hydroelectric stations in Puryong county. [28]
Pujonggang Power Station Sinhung County 203.7 MW [28]
Anbyon Youth Power Station Anbyon County 324 MWOriginal design capacity 810 MW. [28]
Taedonggang Power Station Tokchon 200 MW
Namgang Power Station Kangdong County 135 MWFed by a gravity dam, also serves to prevent flooding of the Taedong River and supply water for agricultural purposes. [28]
Chonchongang Thermal Power Station Kaechon 200 MWSupplies to industrial complexes, such as the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex in Anju. [28]
East Pyongyang Thermal Power Station Rangnang-guyok 100 MW [28]
December 12 Thermal Power Station Chollima-guyok 50 MWOriginally planned three generators of 50 MW each, only one built. Supplies electricity to Chollima Steel Complex. [28]
Ryesonggang Youth Hydropower Plant No. 1 to 5 Kumchon County 50 MWSeries of five power plants on the Ryeson River, with five power stations of four generators each, producing 2.5 MW. [38] [39] [40] [41]

No.1 was started up in 2008, with the last being completed in 2018. [42]

Wonsan Army-People Power Station [43] Popdong County 20 MWTwo 10 MW turbines on the Rimjin River. [44]
Hamhung Hydropower Station No.1 Chongpyong County 10 MWTwo 4 MW and a 2 MW generator on Kumjin River. [45]
Orangchon Power Stations North Hamgyong Province 134.5 MWHydroelectric power project including 4 dams and 5 power stations.
Sinuiju Solar Power Station Sinuiju 1 MW73 48-panel array, one 30-panel array and one 60-panel array. [46]
Kumsanpho Fishery Solar Power Station Cholsan County small2880 panels in total, can generate "hundreds of kw" [46]
  1. 1 2 capacity shared between China and North Korea

See also

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References

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