North Korea faces major power shortage amid cold wave

North Korea is expected to face substantial electricity shortages after its thermal power plants, which were overhauled last year, froze amid the severest cold spell in 50 years.

The Rodong Sinmun, the Workers¡¯ Party organ, obtained here Tuesday, reported in its Jan. 26 and 27 editions that the bitter cold froze and severely damaged equipment at its thermal power plants, including the East Pyongyang Thermal Power Plant.

Based on the reports, experts here said that not only the pipelines in turbine cooling line, but also boiler pipelines which are very to repair appear to have ruptured.

North Korea is thought to have the capacity to generate 7.39 million kw of power. Thermal power plants are responsible for about 40 percent or 2.95 million kw. The malfunction of the plants would thus cause a major power failure with serious ill effects on the economy, the experts said.

North Korea's Ministry of Electric Power Industry reportedly told factories and businesses to share power and operate production facilities at different times.

The paper also reported that all government agencies, organizations and administrative units are launching an extensive campaign to save power.

Ha Tae-Won scooop@donga.com