What are North Korea's recent power station projects?

In the next installments, we will examine some of North Korea’s recent power station projects, including the Orangchon Power Station, which was recently completed after 40 years of work, and North Korea’s latest policy of small-scale hydro stations to serve local communities.

Does North Korea have a power shortage?

Preface North Korea suffers from chronic energy shortages. Rolling blackouts are common, even in the nation’s capital, while some of the poorest citizens receive state-provided electricity only once a year.

What type of power is used in North Korea?

Hydropower is the dominant form of electricity generation in North Korea. The country’s numerous mountains and rivers make it an attractive choice for power generation. As noted in article one of this series, Statistics Korea estimates it accounted for 53 percent of all power generation, while Nautilus Institute put hydro at 76 percent.

Does North Korea have a thermal power plant?

But the two diverge on assessments of the country’s thermal power production capacity, which consists mostly of coal-fired power plants. Statistics Korea estimates thermal power stations in North Korea supplied 11.2 TWh of electricity in 2020, while Nautilus estimates this at just 3.3 TWh.

When did North Korea start implementing small- and medium-sized power plants?

In the meantime, North Korea began instituting a new system of small- and medium-sized power plants in 2000. The scheme was intended to meet electricity demands in small factories and homes.

Why is North Korea reliant on hydro power?

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. Power plants that were never completed/ started up are shown in Salmon Allegedly fails to generate power at full capacity due to harsh weather.