Pyongchon Thermal Power Station generates electricity for central Pyongyang.

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

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 2019 CIA World Factbook, only 26% of North Korea’s population has access to electricity. Many households are restricted to 2 hours' power per day due to priority being given to manufacturing plants.[3][4][5]

Overview

Imagery of the Korean Peninsula at night, showing that North Korea is in almost complete darkness due to a lack of electricity[6]
Energy in North Korea[7]
Capita Prim. energy Production Export Electricity CO2-emission
Million TWh TWh TWh TWh Mt
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[8]

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.[9][10]

In 2017 many homes were using small standalone photovoltaic systems.[11][12] In 2019 it was estimated 55% of North Korean households used solar panels.[13]

By 2019, electricity production had reached a level where any supply blackouts were of relatively short durations.[14]

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.[15] 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.[16]

North Korea imports jet fuel, diesel fuel, and gasoline from two refineries in Dalian, China, which arrive at the North Korean port of Nampo.[15]

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.[3][2] Power plants that were never completed/ started up are shown in  Salmon 

Name Location Installed

capacity

 Notes
Huichon Hydroelectric Power Station Huichon 300 MW Allegedly fails to generate power at full capacity due to harsh weather.[2]
Sup'ung Dam Yalu River 630 MW[17][Note 1] Units 3, 6, 7 generate power to North Korea at 60 Hz; unit 2 can generate either for China or North Korea.[18] The power plant is operated by North Korea. Seven 90 MW units.[17]
Unbong Dam Yalu River 430 MW[19][Note 1] Units 2, 4 supply power to North Korea at 60 Hz. The power plant is operated by North Korea.[19]
Taipingwan Dam Yalu River 190 MW[20] Operated by China.[20]
Wiwon Dam Yalu River 222.5 MW[21]
Kumyagang Power Station No.2 Kumya County 7.5 MW[22]
Kumyagang Army-People Power Station Kumya County large[23]
Yonsan Yonsan County small 2 small generators[24]
Tanchon Power Station No.1 to 6 Tanchon small to medium series of 6 small to medium size hydropower stations.[25]
Hungju Youth Hydroelectric Power Station No. 1 to 3 Kanggye small series of 3 small hydropower stations.[26]
Jangjagang Hydroelectric Power Station Manpo 90 MW[27] series of small hydropower stations.[26]
Pukchon Kanggye small small hydropower stations.[28]
Kanggye Youth Power Station Kanggye 224.6 MW[27]
Paektusan Hero Youth Power station Sodusu River large series of 3 power hydropower stations.[29]
Taechon Hydroelectric Power Station Taeryong River 746 MW[27] Series of hydropower plants on the Taeryong River.[26]
Taeryong Hydroelectric Power Station small to medium
Huchang Mine No. 4 Power Station Kimhyongjik County small Built to support Huchang mine.[30]
Pukchang Thermal Power Complex Pukchang County 1600 MW Highest generation capacity of power plants in North Korea.[31]
Pyongyang Thermal Power Plant Pyongchon-guyok 700 MW[32]
Kangdong Thermal Power Plant Kangdong County between 100 and 300 MW[33] Construction began in late 2010, but stalled sometime after 2014
Sunchon Thermal Power Plant Sunchon 210 MW[27]
Sonbong Thermal Electric Power Plant Sonbong-guyok 200 MW Originally named Unggi Thermoelectric Power Plant, and powered by heavy fuel oil from Sŭngri Petrochemical Complex. Rebuilt to use coal from 2015.[34] Also known as 6.16 Power Station.[27]
Nyongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center – experimental light-water reactor Nyongbyon County 20 MW[35] Possibly began operations around October 2023.[36]
Korean Energy Development Organisation – two light water reactors. Sinpo 2000 MW Abandoned due to US withdrawal from Agreed Framework.[35]
March 17 Power Plant Chongjin

(Unit 1)

 200 MW[27]
Puryong County (Unit 2, 3) 310 MW[27]
Chongjin Thermal Power Plant Chongjin 150 MW Supplies to industry, such as the Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex.[27]
Hochongang Power Station Hochon County 40.6 MW series of hydroelectric stations on the Hochon river.[27]
Changjingang Power Station Yonggwang County 34.7 MW series of hydroelectric stations on the Changjin river.[27]
Puryong Power Station Puryong County 32 MW series of hydroelectric stations in Puryong county.[27]
Pujonggang Power Station Sinhung County 203.7 MW[27]
Anbyon Youth Power Station Anbyon County 324 MW Original design capacity 810 MW.[27]
Taedonggang Power Station Tokchon 200 MW
Namgang Power Station Kangdong County 135 MW Fed by a gravity dam, also serves to prevent flooding of the Taedong River and supply water for agricultural purposes.[27]
Chonchongang Thermal Power Station Kaechon 200 MW Supplies to industrial complexes, such as the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex in Anju.[27]
East Pyongyang Thermal Power Station Rangnang-guyok 100 MW[27]
December 12 Thermal Power Station Chollima-guyok 50 MW Originally planned three generators of 50 MW each, only one built. Supplies electricity to Chollima Steel Complex.[27]
Ryesonggang Youth Hydropower Plant No. 1 to 5 Kumchon County 50 MW Series of five power plants on the Ryeson River, with five power stations of four generators each, producing 2.5 MW.[37][38][39][40]

No.1 was started up in 2008, with the last being completed in 2018.[41]

Wonsan Army-People Power Station[42] Popdong County 20 MW Two 10 MW turbines on the Rimjin River.[43]
Hamhung Hydropower Station No.1 Chongpyong County 10 MW Two 4 MW and a 2 MW generator on Kumjin River.[44]
Orangchon Power Stations North Hamgyong Province 134.5 MW Hydroelectric power project including 4 dams and 5 power stations.
Sinuiju Solar Power Station Sinuiju 1 MW 73 48-panel array, one 30-panel array and one 60-panel array.[45]
Kumsanpho Fishery Solar Power Station Cholsan County small 2880 panels in total, can generate "hundreds of kw"[45]
  1. 1 2 capacity shared between China and North Korea

See also

References

  1. ↑ 2011 IEA Key energy statistics 2011 Archived 2011-10-27 at the Wayback Machine Page: Country specific indicator numbers from page 48
  2. 1 2 3 Makowsky, Peter; Town, Jenny; Pitz, Samantha (3 July 2019). "North Korea's Hydroelectric Power - Part I". 38 North. The Henry L. Stimson Center. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  3. 1 2 Jang, Seulkee (22 February 2021). "North Korea's electricity situation worsens compared to last year".
  4. ↑ "North Korea is trying to find a way to keep the lights on". 19 September 2019.
  5. ↑ "North Korea still lacks electricity, but energy aid could be the future: Report | NK News". NK News - North Korea News. 27 April 2021.
  6. ↑ "Satellite data strongly suggests that China, Russia and other authoritarian countries are fudging their GDP reports". Washington Post. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  7. ↑ IEA Key World Energy Statistics Statistics 2015 Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, 2014 (2012R as in November 2015 Archived 2015-04-05 at the Wayback Machine + 2012 as in March 2014 is comparable to previous years statistical calculation criteria, 2013 Archived 2014-09-02 at the Wayback Machine, 2012 Archived 2013-03-09 at the Wayback Machine, 2011 Archived 2011-10-27 at the Wayback Machine, 2010 Archived 2010-10-11 at the Wayback Machine, 2009 Archived 2013-10-07 at the Wayback Machine, 2006 Archived 2009-10-12 at the Wayback Machine IEA October, crude oil p. 11, coal p. 13 gas p. 15
  8. ↑ Energy in Sweden 2010 Archived October 16, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Facts and figures, The Swedish Energy Agency, Table 8 Losses in nuclear power stations Table 9 Nuclear power brutto
  9. ↑ Kim Tae Hong (6 August 2012). "Economic Collapse Reflected in Scarce Electricity". Daily NK. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  10. ↑ "N. Korea's power consumption per capita at 1970s levels". Yonhap News. Yonhap. 6 August 2012. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  11. ↑ Frank, Ruediger (6 April 2017). "Consumerism in North Korea: The Kwangbok Area Shopping Center". 38 North. U.S.-Korea Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Archived from the original on 11 April 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  12. ↑ Lankov, Andrei (31 May 2017). "How North Korea 's electricity supply became one of the world's worst". NK News. Retrieved 21 October 2017. outside walls of houses are nearly all plastered with solar panels
  13. ↑ Shin, Hyonhee (18 April 2019). "Cheap solar panels power consumer appliance boom in North Korea". Reuters. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  14. ↑ Park Min-hee; Noh Ji-won (14 January 2019). "From darkness to light: North Koreans experience abundance of electricity for first time". The Hankyoreh. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  15. 1 2 Aizhu, Chen (28 April 2017). "How North Korea gets its oil from China: lifeline in question at U.N. meeting". Reuters. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  16. ↑ "Can North Korea Survive An Oil Embargo?". OilPrice. 12 September 2017.
  17. 1 2 "水丰水电站—中水东北勘测设计研究有限责任公司". neidri.com.cn. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  18. ↑ "水丰水电站(鸭绿江)". www.pinlue.com. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  19. 1 2 "水知识". xxfb.mwr.cn. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  20. 1 2 "太平湾水电站—中水东北勘测设计研究有限责任公司". neidri.com.cn. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  21. ↑ "桓仁水电站—中水东北勘测设计研究有限责任公司". neidri.com.cn. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  22. ↑ "Monitoring report form for CDM project activity" (PDF). UNFCCC.
  23. ↑ "North Korea finishes another large scale hydro plant | NK News". NK News - North Korea News. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  24. ↑ Korean Central Television (2021-09-14). [록화보도] 9월14일 20시보도 (in Korean).
  25. ↑ "Tanchon Power Station Project: A Decline in Progress? - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  26. 1 2 3 "North Korea's Hydroelectric Power – Part II - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "주요발전소". Ministry of Unification.
  28. ↑ "《조선의 오늘》". dprktoday.com. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  29. ↑ "North Korea's Hydroelectric Power – The Paektusan Hero Youth Power Stations - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  30. ↑ "북한, 후창광산4호발전소 준공". SPN 서울평양뉴스 (in Korean). 24 September 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  31. ↑ "Energy and Power - North Korean Targets". nuke.fas.org. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  32. ↑ "Powering the Korean Peninsula: Economic and Strategic Considerations". Beyond Parallel. 17 March 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  33. ↑ "Pyongyang's Perpetual Power Problems". 38 North. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  34. ↑ "Conversion of North Korea's Sonbong Thermal Electric Power Plant to Burn Coal Nears Completion - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  35. 1 2 ""Safety First—Not One Accident Can Occur": Nuclear Safety and North Korea's Quest to Build a Light Water Reactor". 38 North. 3 April 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  36. ↑ "North Korea's ELWR Now Appears Operating". www.armscontrolwonk.com. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  37. ↑ "CDM: Ryesonggang Hydropower Plant No.4, DPR Korea".
  38. ↑ "CDM: Ryesonggang Hydropower Plant No.4, DPR Korea". cdm.unfccc.int. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  39. ↑ "N. Korea completes hydro plant as part of UN project | NK News". NK News - North Korea News. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  40. ↑ "An update on the Huichon and Ryesonggang Power Stations". North Korean Economy Watch. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  41. ↑ "Power Stations along the Ryesong River". www.uriminzokkiri.com. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  42. ↑ "DPRK's History of Self-reliance (29)". www.uriminzokkiri.com. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  43. ↑ "Clean development mechanism" (PDF). nkeconwatch.com. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  44. ↑ "CDM: Hamhung Hydropower Plant No.1". cdm.unfccc.int. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  45. 1 2 Williams, Martyn (4 April 2023). "North Korea's Energy Sector: Notable Solar Installations - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. Retrieved 6 April 2023.

Further reading

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