Samchonpo power station

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Samchonpo (Samcheonpo) power station (삼천포 발전소) is a 2,120-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station in South Gyeongsang, South Korea.

Location

The undated satellite photo below shows the plant in Deokho Hai, Goseong.

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Background on Plant

Samchonpo power station was a six-unit coal-fired power station totaling 3,240 MW in Deokho Hai, Goseong. It was commissioned from 1983 to 1998, and owned by KEPCO.

Although some sources may have indicated that Units 1-2 were closed in April 2020, they were not retired until May 1, 2021 – 16 months after it was originally planned. Units 3-4 are planned for closure in 2023.

In March 2022, a fatal accident occurred at the plant. According to reports, a member of the Samcheonpo Business Division fell after taking the elevator to inspect equipment on the fifth floor of Unit 3.

Conversion to gas

In 2020, South Korea planned to shut a total of 15.3 GW of coal-fired capacity by 2034 according to a draft of the country's ninth basic electricity plan, of which 12.7 GW would be switched to run on imported gas.

The following power stations had plans to convert from coal to gas:

• Dangjin power station Units 1 and 2 in 2029 (2 * 500 MW)
• Dangjin power station Units 3 and 4 in 2030 (2 * 500 MW)
• Samchonpo power station Unit 3 in 2024 (560 MW)
• Samchonpo power station Unit 4 in 2024 (560 MW)
• Samchonpo power station Unit 5 in 2027 (500 MW)
• Samchonpo power station Unit 6 in 2028 (500 MW)
• Yeongheung power station Units 1 and 2 in 2034 (2 * 800 MW)

In September 2022, residents of Samcheonpo protested against the gas conversion of the power station.

Project Details

• Sponsor: Korea Southeast Power Co
• Parent company: KEPCO
• Location: Deokho Hai, Goseong, South Gyeongsang, South Korea
• Coordinates: 34.910715, 128.108397 (exact)
• Status: Operating (Units 3-6), Retired (Units 1-2)
• Gross generating capacity (announced): 2,120 MW
  • Unit CC3: LNG-fired, 560MW (start-up in 2024)
  • Unit CC4: LNG-fired, 560MW (start-up in 2024)
  • Unit CC5: LNG-fired, 500MW (start-up in 2027)
  • Unit CC6: LNG-fired, 500MW (start-up in 2028)
• Gross generating capacity (operating): 2,120 MW
  • Units 3-4: Coal-fired, 560 MW
  • Units 5-6: Coal-fired, 500 MW
• Gross generating capacity (retired): 1,120 MW
  • Units 1-2: Coal-fired, 560 MW
• Type: Subcritical (Units 1-4), Supercritical (Units 5-6)
• Start year: 1983 (Unit 1), 1984 (Unit 2), 1993 (Unit 3), 1994 (Unit 4), 1997 (Unit 5), 1998 (Unit 6)
• Coal Type: Sub/Bituminous
• Coal Source:
• Source of financing:
• Unit Retirements: Units 1 and 2 retired in 2021.
• Planned Unit Retirements: Units 3 & 4 are scheduled to close by 2024; Units 5 by 2027; Unit 6 by 2028.

Articles and resources

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