Pukchang Thermal Power Complex in South Pyongan Province
The Pukchang Thermoelectric Power Plant in South Pyongan Province. (Rodong Sinmun)

South Pyongan Province is dedicating resources to build a medium-sized power plant in Tokchon in an attempt to resolve shortages of electricity, Daily NK has learned.

“The provincial party committee of South Pyongan Province planned the construction of a medium-sized power plant in Tokchon, which is an important location both industrially and regionally, and has designated construction as a project [led by the Workers’ Party],” said a Daily NK source in the province on Dec. 1.

According to the source, Tokchon needs a reliable supply of electricity because it hosts the Sungri Motor Plant and major coal mines, as well as the headquarters of the 11th Corps (Storm Corps), an elite military unit. 

“Since state power will only provide 30% [of the province’s electricity needs] next year, the province is pushing to speed up the power plant construction so that it can implement its production plans for next year,” the source said.

In the initial phase, workers were recruited from organizations and businesses to form work crews known as “storm troops” for the construction of the power plant. But given a shortage of workers, South Pyongan Province designated the construction as a “party-led project” at the end of November as it seeks to establish more work crews, the source said.

“South Pyongan Province has reported to the Workers’ Party that it will guarantee 12 hours of electricity a day, even if 24 hours isn’t feasible, but it’s running into trouble because of the cold weather, inadequate materials, and a shortage of workers. It has asked the Workers’ Party to help it recruit more workers,” the source explained.

Provincial authorities launched the project at the request of the provincial and municipal party branches, which maintain that the power plant construction cannot be delayed even in the winter. But because of inadequate work crews, progress has been sluggish, frustrating on-site managers and prompting them to ask for help.

However, organizations and businesses have quietly been objecting to diverting more workers to the power plant construction project. Considering that they are already short of the workers needed to carry out other construction projects mandated by the province and the central government, they are reluctant to dispatch even more.

Amid all the grand rhetoric about a new power plant, residents of Tokchon are doubtful whether the facility will ever see the light of day. They point out that a previously built power plant ended up being nonfunctional because of technical shortcomings.

In addition, the members of the “storm troop” crews already on the job and their family members are complaining about the difficulties of being forced to work in the cold weather without having enough to eat, the source said. 

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