OREANDA-NEWS. August 29, 2013. In response to the recent national power supply crisis with demand recorded at the highest level ever due to the heat wave this summer, POSCO is taking the initiative in overcoming the power crisis by announcing a series of power reduction programs.

POSCO announced a power saving plan in June to reduce the mean power usage per hour by 620,000kW for the two months of July and August, and it also plans to cut an additional 60,000kW during the biggest peak in the power crisis from August 10 to 14.

Accordingly, the energy consumption POSCO can reduce will reach 680,000kW, which is an amount approximately 1.6 million households can use simultaneously.

For this additional reduction, the steelmaker raised its self generation ratio from 70% to 90%, consequently reducing the amount of energy supplied by Korea Electric Power Corporation to a third.

Meanwhile, POSCO dashed into the extreme power saving program in June, lowering the operation rate of stainless and high usage mills, while stopping part of the oxygen plant at Gwangyang Works. In August, when power demand is highest, it is minimizing the rate of operation.

In August, earlier than planned, POSCO also commenced repair and maintenance work of its rod plant, thick plate plant and electrical steel plant, which had originally been scheduled for September, October and November, respectively, and repair and maintenance work of the hot and cold rolling plants at Gwangyang Works originally scheduled for the fourth quarter, with the intention of reducing power usage. In addition, it maximized the amount of LNG combined cycle power generation.

POSCO Specialty Steel also reduced its operation rate to 80% in August, and even to 70% during the period from August 10 to 14, in an effort to save energy.

Seoul POSCO Center also decided to stop the operation of one of its central coolers and one of two air ventilation systems for each floor twice a day, from 10:00 to 11:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00. It will also stop the operation of two elevators in its east and west wings, respectively.

In the east wing of the POSCO Center, exterior glass walls have had insulation films attached to them by the use of roll screens, and the lights at the window side of offices and in the corridors are also turned off, reducing the overall office temperature by 2-3?. It is also notable that the company stopped the exhibition of Paik Nam June works on the first floor, as well as operation of the Steel Gallery.

Despite stopping part of its cooling equipment, the company ensured that its employees continue to work in pleasant environments by using fan coils with low electricity loads to minimize the increase of office temperatures.

It also recommended its employees to wear cool attire such as no-tie and short sleeved tops, while maintaining business decorum, and advised not to use personal electric fans and made it mandatory to turn off their computers during lunchtime and long-time absences.

The POSCO Center also recommended POSCO and the other residents to use summer leaves, and requested cooperation to prevent overtime work.