WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

3.2.3 Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Kai Whiting and Lara Esser, International Center on
Small Hydro Power
Key facts
Population 24,589,122 1
Area 122,538 km 2
Climate Temperate, with all four seasons
Topography Mountainous areas in 80 per cent of
the country, especially in the northern
Rain
pattern
and eastern coastline
Average annual precipitation: 1,000-
1,200 mm
Electricity sector overview
The national electrification rate is low, currently at 26
per cent. 2 In 2000, electricity shortages, blackouts and
rationing were reported due the lack of fuel and
transmission network failures. Some of the causes
were a major flooding in 1996 which rendered some
hydropower plants inoperable, and operation under
capacity at coal-fired stations due to problems with
train-based coal transportation. 4 Energy shortages
also stem from the reduction in energy imports as a
result of the import sanctions and less financial aid.
All energy infrastructures are state-owned, and state
sources report a total installed capacity of 7 GW, with
an average annual power generation of 51,000 GWh. 3
Data on the share of different energy sources to the
annual power generation is inconclusive. It is known
that the country relies on two main sources of
electricity: hydropower (60 per cent) and coal (40 per
cent). 3
Much of the infrastructure is outdated, poorly
maintained or based on obsolete technology. It is
considered unlikely that the network is robust enough
to manage electricity imports.
There are five thermal power plants and over 700
hydropower plants, including medium- and smallsized
plants. While there is no plan to construct more
thermal power plants, it was reported in 2005 that
new hydropower plants and tidal power plants were
under construction and that they are to be finished by
2012.
A Sustainable Rural Energy Development Programme
was operating from August 2006 until March 2007,
when United Nations Development Programme
operations were suspended. In January 2011 the
project resumed activities with the aim ‘to strengthen
the sustainable and efficient use of conventional
energy and improve accessibility of alternative energy
sources for local communities and households’. This
includes renewable energy pilot demonstration
schemes. 5
As of year 2000, a total of 4.2 GW hydropower
potential had been developed. Another 22.36 GW is
its theoretical potential and another 12.38 GW is the
untapped potential. 3
Small hydropower sector overview and potential
Information on the small hydropower situation is not
comprehensively known. A national report from year
2000 stated that the existence of some 250 small and
medium power plants with a generating capacity of
50,000 kWh would facilitate electricity of selfsufficiency
in the Jagang Province. 6
Many rivers, reservoirs, irrigation canal networks and
tidal dykes along the West coast are favorable for
large-, medium- and small-sized hydropower
development. The sites suitable for small hydropower
vary in heads. Almost 80 per cent of the estimated
sites have a head lower than 15 m, and among those
50 per cent have a head of 5 m. However, the total
small hydropower potential was not clearly stated in
the available documents.
The general future plan for hydropower in the
Democratic Republic of Korea is to rehabilitate and
refurbish old turbines, which have been in operation
for more than 30 years. The plan is to increase the
installed hydropower capacity by 1,117 MW (table 1).
In 2005, for example 20 Francis turbine units and 10
Kaplan and/or Propeller units needed replacement to
gain 2-3 per cent higher efficiency. Their
refurbishment cost will be equivalent to building a
new hydropower plant of 110 MW installed capacity.
Table 1
Planned hydropower in the Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea
(Megawatts)
Basin
Capacity
Huichon 644
Kumya 329
Ryesong 144
Total 1 117
Source: Jin and Chol 3
Table 2
Planned medium- and small-hydropower in the
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
River Basin Number Capacity
(MW)
Daedong No. 5 4 10.0
Dokji 4 3.2
Chongchon 3 15.0
Jangja No. 2 3 6.0
Total 14 34.2
Source: Jin and Chol 3
Renewable energy policy
The policy orientation of the Government is towards
non-fossil fuel options, solving the issue of ageing
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