North Korean minister admits energy crisis

Source: BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific - Political Publication date: Mar 17, 2000

&Writing in the Communist Party's paper, `Nodong Sinmun', North Korea's vice-minister of power and coal industries has admitted that the country faces a energy crisis. Pleading the case for massive energy savings, the minister said: "Hydraulic power stations are idle because there is no water. Thermal power stations are not running properly because they have coal shortages." As a result, key industries were not being supplied with the electricity they needed, he added. And as the farming season approaches, irrigation reservoirs could not be filled due to a lack of power for pumping.

Text of article by O Kwang-hong, North Korean vice-minister of power and coal industries, entitled: "Electricity conservation depends on functionaries"; published by North Korean newspaper `Nodong Sinmun' on 9th March

The party newspaper has established an efficiency column [chisang sirhyo yondan] on electricity conservation. I think this column will be very effective.

Participating in this efficiency column, I have something to say about electricity conservation. The electricity conditions are extremely strained [maeu ginjanghada]. I have heavy responsibility.

We must not give up, while complaining that the electricity conditions are strained. These days, I recall the work and life of the heroes of our era night and day. This reminds me of many things.

They did not complain about the conditions. They unconditionally and thoroughly implemented the party's policies on the stand to resolve everything on their own strength even if the higher echelons do not supply the necessities, although it would be better if the higher echelons did supply them. Hero Kim Yu-pong charged at the coalface head on.

Heroine Pak Ok-hui did three-crop farming, while bringing the spring season to her mind. Hero Ho Yong-ku charged at underground water routes to produce even a watt more. They are genuine heroes.

As a matter of fact, we have had little rain in recent years. Hydraulic power stations are idle because there is no water. Thermal power stations are not running properly because they have coal shortages. As a result, we are unable to supply sufficient electricity to coal mines, metallurgical and chemical plants, the railroad sector, and other important facilities for which we must guarantee electricity supply. We are unable to appropriately supply electricity for residential use, as well. The farming season is near at hand.

We must store water in reservoirs. However, in many cases, we are unable to operate pumps because of the electricity conditions. The electricity conditions are strained as usual. However, no matter how strained the electricity conditions may be, we must glorify the 55th anniversary of the party's founding as a victor's grand festive event by scoring great upsurges in production in all sectors of the people's economy.

How can we run our plants and enterprises at full capacity with the available electricity? It is through electricity conservation.

The great leader Comrade Kim Chong-il has pointed out:

"We must wage a powerful struggle to conserve electricity."

The heroes of our era devotedly waged the struggle to contribute to building a powerful state by producing even one more gram of coal or one more watt-hour. Anyone, anywhere, can conserve energy if he learns from this fighting spirit. Electricity conservation also depends on our functionaries' organizational work. One may say what great significance does electricity conservation have at a time when electricity production is not being carried out appropriately. They do not know what they are talking about.

If our functionaries carry out organizational work well, much electricity can be saved. Frequently there are situations in which functionaries have a concrete understanding of the conditions of raw materials and materials of production units including plants and enterprises, but they are not able to establish detailed plans for supplying electricity. There are cases when a very small amount of electricity is supplied to units that should be given in large amounts. Also, at times much electricity is supplied to facilities that use small amount of electricity or only need a small amount of electricity. There is a saying, count on the fingers and have the head chopped off.

More than anyone else, functionaries should thoroughly establish the plan for supplying electricity and carry out organizational work in detail to reduce waste of electricity to the utmost. Heroes of our era are not at all familiar with the phrase, taking shortcuts. They tenaciously make calculations and carry out work in a revolutionary way, thus, implementing the party policy without fail. Organizing alternative production down to the last detail is one of the most effective methods for electricity conservation.

If every plant and enterprise adapts an organization plan of alternative production [kyoch'a saengsan chojikki] and draws up an organization timetable for alternative production [kyoch'a saengsan chojikp'yo] in line with the situation and use it reasonably, they can increase production by operating machinery and equipment to full capacity within the hours when electricity is provided.

There may be an occasion where electricity will not be supplied by the upper echelon as the organization timetable for alternative production stipulates to do so. In that case, [plants and enterprises] should wait until the next hour of alternative production, then produce. If they fail to do so, think about only their own unit, and make a production with a thought that they will fully utilize electricity that they could not afford to use previously, that will cause a disarray for the electric power supply channel. It may eventually prevent any plant from operating.

Another way to increase electric power reserves is to have plants and enterprises lower the standard of electric power consumption through technical modernization.

Functionaries should modernize the outdated production technology process, and keep sufficient raw materials and resources, then produce intensively. Residents as well as plants and enterprises should not consume electricity thoughtlessly.

Institutions should conserve electricity by ending business hours on time. I would like to stress this in particular.

Electricity conservation hinges on functionaries. This is what I would like to say here.

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-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), March 17, 2000