Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) announced on the 23rd that it started operation of the 345 kV (kilovolt) Sincheong substation and related transmission line on the 20th to ensure stable power supply to the semiconductor advanced industrial complex in Chungbuk.
The Sincheong substation was built to proactively respond to the increase in power demand due to the development of industrial complexes in Cheongju, Jincheon, and Eumseong counties.
Although there are the Sinjincheon and Cheongwon substations nearby, this construction was promoted to alleviate the lack of supply capacity due to the surge in power demand.
To this end, KEPCO signed a business agreement in February 2019 with Chungcheongbuk-do, Cheongju, and SK hynix to ensure timely construction of the substation.
According to the agreement, SK hynix provided the substation site, and Chungcheongbuk-do and Cheongju actively cooperated with construction-related permits, completing the project in seven years, which typically takes more than nine years, KEPCO reported.
The main customers of the Sincheong substation include SK hynix and LG CHEM.
In particular, the SK hynix Cheongju M15X plant, which primarily produces high-bandwidth memory (HBM), has established a stable foundation for future production of artificial intelligence (AI) memory due to the timely completion of the Sincheong substation.
Kim Ho-gon, head of the KEPCO Transmission and Substation Construction Division, noted, "The Sincheong substation is an important infrastructure that supports the development of the semiconductor advanced industry and the growth of the national economy," adding, "We will do our best to enhance the acceptability of residents and ensure stable power supply in accordance with the Special Act on Expansion of National Power Infrastructure."