Energy in North Korea describes energy and electricity production, consumption and import in North Korea.
North Korea is a net energy exporter. Primary energy use in North Korea was 224 TWh and 9 TWh per million people in 2009.[1] 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.[2]
According to The World Bank, in 2021, 52.63% of North Korea’s population had access to electricity.[3] Many households are restricted to 2 hours' power per day due to priority being given to manufacturing plants.[4] [5] [6]
| Energy in North Korea[7] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 power[8] 2012R = CO2 calculation criteria changed, numbers updated | ||||||
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.[9] [10]
In 2017 many homes were using small standalone photovoltaic systems.[11] [12] In 2019 it was estimated 55% of North Korean households used solar panels.[13]
By 2019, electricity production had reached a level where any supply blackouts were of relatively short durations.[14]
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.[15] 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.[16]
North Korea imports jet fuel, diesel fuel, and gasoline from two refineries in Dalian, China, which arrive at the North Korean port of Nampo.[15]
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.[4] [2] Power plants that were never completed/ started up are shown in
| Huichon Hydroelectric Power Station | Huichon | 300 MW | Allegedly fails to generate power at full capacity due to harsh weather. | |
| Sup'ung Dam | Yalu River | 630 MW[17] [18] | Units 3, 6, 7 generate power to North Korea at 60 Hz; unit 2 can generate either for China or North Korea.[19] The power plant is operated by North Korea. Seven 90 MW units. | |
| Unbong Dam | Yalu River | 430 MW[20] | Units 2, 4 supply power to North Korea at 60 Hz. The power plant is operated by North Korea. | |
| Taipingwan Dam | Yalu River | 190 MW[21] | Operated by China. | |
| Wiwon Dam | Yalu River | 222.5 MW[22] | ||
| Kumyagang Power Station No.2 | Kumya County | 7.5 MW[23] | ||
| Kumyagang Army-People Power Station | Kumya County | [24] | ||
| Yonsan County | 2 small generators[25] | |||
| Tanchon Power Station No.1 to 6 | Tanchon | series of 6 small to medium size hydropower stations.[26] | ||
| Hungju Youth Hydroelectric Power Station No. 1 to 3 | Kanggye | series of 3 small hydropower stations.[27] | ||
| Jangjagang Hydroelectric Power Station | Manpo | 90 MW[28] | series of small hydropower stations. | |
| Pukchon | Kanggye | small hydropower stations.[29] | ||
| Kanggye Youth Power Station | Kanggye | 224.6 MW | ||
| Paektusan Hero Youth Power station | Sodusu River | series of 3 power hydropower stations.[30] | ||
| Taechon Hydroelectric Power Station | Taeryong River | 746 MW | Series of hydropower plants on the Taeryong River. | |
| Taeryong Hydroelectric Power Station | ||||
| Huchang Mine No. 4 Power Station | Kimhyongjik County | Built to support Huchang mine.[31] | ||
| Pukchang Thermal Power Complex | Pukchang County | 1600 MW | Highest generation capacity of power plants in North Korea.[32] | |
| Pyongyang Thermal Power Plant | Pyongchon-guyok | 700 MW[33] | ||
| Kangdong Thermal Power Plant | Kangdong County | [34] | Construction began in late 2010, but stalled sometime after 2014 | |
| Sunchon Thermal Power Plant | Sunchon | 210 MW | ||
| Sonbong Thermal Electric Power Plant | Sonbong-guyok | 200 MW | Originally named Unggi Thermoelectric Power Plant, and powered by heavy fuel oil from Sŭngri Petrochemical Complex. Rebuilt to use coal from 2015.[35] Also known as 6.16 Power Station. | |
| Nyongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center – experimental light-water reactor | Nyongbyon County | 20 MW[36] | Probably conducting pre-operational testing.[37] | |
| Korean Energy Development Organisation – two light water reactors. | Sinpo | 2000 MW | Abandoned due to US withdrawal from Agreed Framework. | |
| March 17 Power Plant | Chongjin(Unit 1) | 200 MW | ||
| Puryong County (Unit 2, 3) | 310 MW | |||
| Chongjin Thermal Power Plant | Chongjin | 150 MW | Supplies to industry, such as the Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex. | |
| Hochongang Power Station | Hochon County | 40.6 MW | series of hydroelectric stations on the Hochon river. | |
| Changjingang Power Station | Yonggwang County | 34.7 MW | series of hydroelectric stations on the Changjin river. | |
| Puryong Power Station | Puryong County | 32 MW | series of hydroelectric stations in Puryong county. | |
| Pujonggang Power Station | Sinhung County | 203.7 MW | ||
| Anbyon Youth Power Station | Anbyon County | 324 MW | Original design capacity 810 MW. | |
| Taedonggang Power Station | Tokchon | 200 MW | ||
| Namgang Power Station | Kangdong County | 135 MW | Fed by a gravity dam, also serves to prevent flooding of the Taedong River and supply water for agricultural purposes. | |
| Chonchongang Thermal Power Station | Kaechon | 200 MW | Supplies to industrial complexes, such as the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex in Anju. | |
| East Pyongyang Thermal Power Station | Rangnang-guyok | 100 MW | ||
| December 12 Thermal Power Station | Chollima-guyok | 50 MW | Originally planned three generators of 50 MW each, only one built. Supplies electricity to Chollima Steel Complex. | |
| Ryesonggang Youth Hydropower Plant No. 1 to 5 | Kumchon County | 50 MW | Series of five power plants on the Ryeson River, with five power stations of four generators each, producing 2.5 MW.[38] [39] [40] [41] No.1 was started up in 2008, with the last being completed in 2018.[42] | |
| Wonsan Army-People Power Station[43] | Popdong County | 20 MW | Two 10 MW turbines on the Rimjin River.[44] | |
| Hamhung Hydropower Station No.1 | Chongpyong County | 10 MW | Two 4 MW and a 2 MW generator on Kumjin River.[45] | |
| Orangchon Power Stations | North Hamgyong Province | 134.5 MW | Hydroelectric power project including 4 dams and 5 power stations. | |
| Sinuiju Solar Power Station | Sinuiju | 1 MW | 73 48-panel array, one 30-panel array and one 60-panel array.[46] | |
| Kumsanpho Fishery Solar Power Station | Cholsan County | 2880 panels in total, can generate "hundreds of kw" |