South Korea to pursue more high-calorific coal

South Korea will instruct domestic utilities to secure high calorific steaming coal to prevent blackouts in winter, the economy ministry said.

The country suffered blackouts mainly in residential areas nationwide earlier this month as unusually hot weather hiked power demand.

The vice economy minister will meet with presidents of six utilities fully owned by state-run Korea Electric Power Corp to discuss preparations for winter peak demand, including measures to secure high calorific coal, the completion of new power plants and maintenance schedules, the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry will draw up in November additional measures to cope with winter power demand and implement them from December, the statement added.

South Korean utilities have been increasing low calorific coal imports mostly of Indonesian origin in a bid to cut costs at loss-making KEPCO.

The full sotry is available at Reuters.