South Korea’s Lee calls for energy saving campaign, including shorter showers, car curbs

The government is calling on people to use washing machines and vacuums over the weekend. Read more at straitstimes.com.

SEOUL - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on March 24 called for a nationwide energy-saving campaign over risks to oil and gas supplies from the Iran war, saying public institutions would cut back on their use of passenger cars.

Energy Minister Kim Sung-whan told a Cabinet meeting private-sector vehicle curbs were voluntary for now, but could be reviewed if the energy alert level increased.

The government is calling on people to adopt 12 energy-saving practices like shorter showers, charging phones and electric vehicles during the day and using washing machines and vacuums over the weekend.

The government will ask the top 50 oil-consuming businesses to cut use, and encourage staggered commuting hours and other conservation steps, he said.

Mr Kim also said Seoul would restart five nuclear reactors by May, ease restrictions on coal plants and expand renewable energy to reduce longer-term dependence on LNG, and could extend the lives of three coal power plants scheduled to close in 2026.

The energy mix adjustment is expected to save up to 14,000 tonnes, or up to 20 per cent of South Korea’s average daily LNG consumption of 69,000 tons for power, Mr Kim said.