K-water NEWS
K-water NEWS
1
In preparation for the flood season, K-water has transitioned to an active disaster safety preparation system
In a proactive move to safeguard against potential summer hazards including floods and heatwaves, K-water convened a company-wide disaster response drill on June 24, 2024. This comprehensive exercise marked a transition to an active corporation-wide disaster response system. This meeting served as comprehensive review/assessment of K-water's flood preparedness measures encompassing dam flood control, emergency response plans for water facilities, and safety management at construction sites. The meeting's main agendas were monsoon and meteorological outlook in 2024, extreme flood preparedness and dam operation plans, flood response system and overall preparedness status, and summer water supply facility operations and emergency management measures. K-water has been at the forefront of disaster preparedness this year. Earlier, CEO Yun Seogdae convened a special task force meeting and launched a nationwide inspection of critical dam sites. This thorough review sought to evaluate a wide range of water management strategies including efforts to expand the reservoir capacity. In addition, he instructed the corporation to prepare thoroughly for the release of water by strengthening the cooperation system with local governments and organizations, prioritizing the safety of downstream residents and visitors, and ensuring that warnings are quickly disseminated ahead of releases.
2
Enhancing Korea-Africa collaboration in water management
K-water is expanding its cooperation in the water sector with Africa’s Lesotho, focusing on water resource development and operational management. The meeting, held at the request of Lesotho Prime Minister Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane who visited Korea to attend the "2024 South Korea-Africa Summit," resulted in the enhancement of cooperation between the two countries in areas such as dam and hydropower plant development and operation management as well as technology exchange. With an eye toward expanding its global reach, K-water is actively seeking collaboration opportunities including Official Development Assistance projects. Following the interview, the presentation of the scientific water management system at the Dam-Waterwork Integration Management Situation Room underscored its potential as a solution to global water issues in the era of climate crisis, drawing keen interest from Prime Minister Samuel Matekane. Furthermore, in an effort to explore advanced water technologies and address water challenges in the era of climate crisis, African leaders visited K-water's AI Water Treatment Plant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do on June 5, 2024. While domestic and international local governments and private companies have visited the plant in the past, this marks the first time that foreign leaders visited the site.
3
Groundbreaking floating solar panel project takes root at Imha Dam: South Korea's first renewable energy cluster
In a joint endeavor, Korea Water Resources Corporation and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. have signed an agreement to construct a 47.2MW floating solar photovoltaic power plant at Imha Dam in Andong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Scheduled for completion in December 2024, the Imha Dam Floating Solar Power Project is set to harness the power of the sun, generating clean energy with investment of KRW 73.2 billion. This groundbreaking initiative was designated as South Korea's first-ever New and Renewable Energy Cluster Project in December 2021. K-water is set to embark on an ambitious project to install the largest floating solar power plant of its kind on the multipurpose dam. This initiative is projected to generate annual output of 61,563 MWh—enough to meet the yearly electricity needs of approximately 22,000 households in the Andong region—and is equivalent to planting approximately 33,000 pine trees for an annual carbon emission reduction of about 28,000 tons. It is expected to contribute significantly to achieving the nation's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for greenhouse gas reduction and overall goal of carbon neutrality. Another notable aspect of the project is the active involvement of local residents from 33 villages within a 1km radius of the floating solar power plant. With 4,500 residents participating as financial investors, the project aims to serve as a model for community-based governance, ensuring that its profits are reinvested in the local community.
4
Offering water safety and water enjoyment routes
In a strategic move to enhance water safety and promote water-related leisure activities, K-water has joined forces with Hyundai AutoEver through a business agreement titled "Data Fusion for Water Safety and Water Enjoyment Routes." K-water and Hyundai AutoEver are forging a groundbreaking alliance to enhance flood safety and leisure experiences near dams. By integrating water-related data including reservoir information with Hyundai's navigation, web maps, and apps, this partnership will provide real-time flood-stage dam operation updates and smart route guidance. The collaboration is also expected to mitigate flood risks, promote safe exploration around dams, and enrich leisure activities with local cultural insights. The agreement details key initiatives such as integrating floodgate discharge information with water safety routes and developing water enjoyment routes incorporating cultural information from the dam’s surroundings.
5
Collaborative efforts to revitalize the nation's water industry
With the goal of nurturing win-win partnerships between large enterprises and small and medium-sized ventures, K-water has forged a business agreement with Korea Technology Finance Corporation (KIBO). This partnership combines K-water's expertise in creating the K-Testbed—an innovation ecosystem for the water industry—with KIBO's extensive network of large enterprises and small and medium-sized ventures through its "2Win-Bridge" initiative. The collaboration aims to address the challenges faced by innovative water technology companies that often struggle to find market opportunities despite the superior products and technologies they have developed. K-water wants to ensure that water technology—a pivotal solution in the era of climate change—can be traded securely without concerns of theft or misappropriation. Additionally, we aim to help innovative water companies expand their market opportunities both domestically and internationally.