Climate, Energy and Environment Ministry signs three semiconductor power-supply pacts

The Climate, Energy and Environment Ministry said Wednesday it signed three agreements to secure timely power for semiconductor projects in the Honam region and Yongin.

The agreements bring together the ministry, the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and Korea Electric Power Corp. They cover one power-supply deal for the Honam semiconductor industrial complex and two for Yongin's national and general industrial complexes.

Honam is projected to need at least 6 gigawatts of electricity. Its first phase will supply about 3 gigawatts for initial fab operations from 2029, before a second phase lifts cumulative supply to at least 6 gigawatts.

Public and private parties will share first-phase costs according to their use, and national fiscal support for part of the private-sector contribution will be pursued after consultations with relevant ministries.

Yongin's national and general industrial complexes are expected to require at least 14 gigawatts by 2041, with initial power supply to the general complex having begun in July 2026. The pacts revise the general complex's power-supply deal and establish a second-phase agreement for the national complex.

The national complex will receive power for six fabs in stages through 2041. By 2032, nearby lines and three 1-gigawatt LNG power plants will meet early demand, while a second phase will increase existing-line capacity by 2035 before supply routes are developed from the east coast and central region.

“The government, companies and regions will work as one team to drastically shorten administrative procedures, and we will make every effort to ensure power is supplied on time in line with construction of the new industrial complexes,” Climate, Energy and Environment Minister Kim Seong-hwan said.