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

Primary energy use in North Korea was 224 TWh and 9 TWh per million people in 2009.2011 IEA Key energy statistics 2011 Page: Country specific indicator numbers from page 48 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.

According to The World Bank, in 2021, 52.63% of North Korea's population had access to electricity. Many households are restricted to 2 hours' power per day due to priority being given to manufacturing plants.

Overview

Energy in North KoreaIEA Key World Energy Statistics Statistics 2015 , 2014 (2012R as in November 2015 + 2012 as in March 2014 is comparable to previous years statistical calculation criteria, 2013 , 2012 , 2011 , 2010 , 2009 , 2006 IEA October, crude oil p. 11, coal p. 13 gas p. 15 Capita Prim. energy Production Export Electricity CO2-emission Million TWh TWh TWh TWh Mt 2004 22.38 237 223 -15 18.50 70.20 2007 23.78 214 229 15 18.12 62.32 2008 23.86 236 242 6 19.54 69.37 2009 23.91 224 236 12 17.76 66.20 2012 24.45 18.21 64.82 2012R 24.76 164 236 72 16.20 45.42 2013 24.90 168 280 112 16.44 47.68 Change 2004-09 6.8% -5.4% 5.5% - -4.0% -5.7% Mtoe = 11.63 TWh, Prim. energy includes energy losses that are 2/3 for nuclear powerEnergy in Sweden 2010 , Facts and figures, The Swedish Energy Agency, Table 8 Losses in nuclear power stations Table 9 Nuclear power brutto 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.

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

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

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. 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.

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

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. Power plants that were never completed/ started up are shown in

+NameLocationInstalled capacityNotesHuichon Hydroelectric Power StationHuichon300 MWAllegedly fails to generate power at full capacity due to harsh weather.Sup'ung DamYalu River630 MWcapacity shared between China and North KoreaUnits 3, 6, 7 generate power to North Korea; unit 2 can generate either for China or North Korea. The power plant is operated by North Korea. Seven 90 MW units.Unbong DamYalu River430 MWUnits 2, 4 supply power to North Korea. The power plant is operated by North Korea.Taipingwan DamYalu River190 MWOperated by China.Wiwon DamYalu River222.5 MWKumyagang Power Station No.2Kumya County7.5 MW"Monitoring report form for CDM project activity" (PDF). UNFCCC.Kumyagang Army-People Power StationKumya CountyYonsan Yonsan County2 small generatorsKorean Central Television (2021-09-14). [록화보도] 9월14일 20시보도 (in Korean).Tanchon Power Station No.1 to 6Tanchonseries of 6 small to medium size hydropower stations.Hungju Youth Hydroelectric Power Station No. 1 to 3Kanggyeseries of 3 small hydropower stations.Jangjagang Hydroelectric Power StationManpo90 MWseries of small hydropower stations.PukchonKanggyesmall hydropower stations.Kanggye Youth Power StationKanggye224.6 MWPaektusan Hero Youth Power stationSodusu Riverseries of 3 power hydropower stations.Taechon Hydroelectric Power StationTaeryong River746 MWSeries of hydropower plants on the Taeryong River.Taeryong Hydroelectric Power StationHuchang Mine No. 4 Power StationKimhyongjik CountyBuilt to support Huchang mine.Pukchang Thermal Power ComplexPukchang County1600 MWHighest generation capacity of power plants in North Korea.Pyongyang Thermal Power PlantPyongchon-guyok700 MWKangdong Thermal Power PlantKangdong CountyConstruction began in late 2010, but stalled sometime after 2014Sunchon Thermal Power PlantSunchon210 MWSonbong Thermal Electric Power PlantSonbong-guyok200 MWOriginally named Unggi Thermoelectric Power Plant, and powered by heavy fuel oil from Sŭngri Petrochemical Complex. Rebuilt to use coal from 2015. Also known as 6.16 Power Station.Nyongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center – experimental light-water reactorNyongbyon County20 MWProbably conducting pre-operational testing.Korean Energy Development Organisation – two light water reactors.Sinpo2000 MWAbandoned due to US withdrawal from Agreed Framework.March 17 Power Plant Chongjin (Unit 1)200 MWPuryong County (Unit 2, 3)310 MWChongjin Thermal Power PlantChongjin150 MWSupplies to industry, such as the Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex.Hochongang Power StationHochon County40.6 MWseries of hydroelectric stations on the Hochon river.Changjingang Power StationYonggwang County34.7 MWseries of hydroelectric stations on the Changjin river.Puryong Power StationPuryong County32 MWseries of hydroelectric stations in Puryong county.Pujongang Power StationSinhung County203.7 MWAnbyon Youth Power StationAnbyon County324 MWOriginal design capacity 810 MW.Taedonggang Power StationTokchon200 MWNamgang Power StationKangdong County135 MWFed by a gravity dam, also serves to prevent flooding of the Taedong River and supply water for agricultural purposes.Chonchongang Thermal Power StationKaechon200 MWSupplies to industrial complexes, such as the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex in Anju.East Pyongyang Thermal Power StationRangnang-guyok100 MWDecember 12 Thermal Power StationChollima-guyok50 MWOriginally planned three generators of 50 MW each, only one built. Supplies electricity to Chollima Steel Complex.Ryesonggang Youth Hydropower Plant No. 1 to 5Kumchon County50 MWSeries of five power plants on the Ryeson River, with five power stations of four generators each, producing 2.5 MW. No.1 was started up in 2008, with the last being completed in 2018.Wonsan Army-People Power StationPopdong County20 MWTwo 10 MW turbines on the Rimjin River. Hamhung Hydropower Station No.1Chongpyong County10 MWTwo 4 MW and a 2 MW generator on Kumjin River.Orangchon Power StationsNorth Hamgyong Province134.5 MWHydroelectric power project including 4 dams and 5 power stations. Sinuiju Solar Power StationSinuiju1 MW73 48-panel array, one 30-panel array and one 60-panel array.Kumsanpho Fishery Solar Power StationCholsan County2880 panels in total, can generate "hundreds of kw"Kangwon Army-People Power StationsKangwon Provincesmall to mediumSeries of 6 Army-People hydropower stations in Hoeyang, Ichon, Munchon, Sepho, Phyonggang and Kosong counties.Haeju Solar Power StationSouth Hamgyong Province10 MWPhabal Solar Power StationRyanggang ProvincesmallCapacity of "thousands of kilowatts"Samgwang Solar FarmNorth Pyongan Provincesmall~800 panels installed on a hillside.South Phyongan Solar Power PlantSouth Pyongan ProvincesmallSeveral hundred panels along the Pyongsong riverbank. Projected to expand to a capacity of "thousands of kilowatts"Hamhung Solar Power StationSouth Hamgyong Provincesmall58 solar panel arrays along the bank of the Songchon River.

See also Mining in North Korea Nuclear power in North Korea Economy of North Korea

References

Further reading

External links