South Korea running short of power amid heat wave

Rolling power outage a possibility.

South Korea warned of a possible power-shortage crisis that might lead to a rolling power outage similar to that in September 2011 amid a scorching heat wave baking the country.

The unrelenting heat wave last week caused power demand to reach a record high of 79.4 million kilowatts, surpassing the country's power-generation capacity of 77.4 million kilowatts. Power reserves temporarily dropped to 3.3 million kilowatts, below the safe level of 3.5 million kilowatts.

Demand for electricity could surge to 80.5 million kilowatts from Aug. 12 to 14, far exceeding the power supply capability of 77.4 million kilowatts. The ministry warned that despite planned emergency measures, the nation's power reserves were estimated to plunge to 1.8 million kilowatts this week.

"An abrupt breakdown of a single power generator would lead to a rolling power cut-off that occurred on Sept. 15, 2011," said Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Yoon Sang-jik.

Yoon asked all factories, households, shops and public institutions to refrain from using electricity from 10 a.m. to 6 p. m. for three days from today, urging them to keep indoor temperature at no lower than 26 degrees Celsius.