[THE INVESTOR] South Korea will map out a comprehensive plan to strengthen the safety measures of the country’s energy facilities by the end of this year, the Industry Ministry said on Sept. 23.

An advisory committee comprised of experts from various fields, including geology and disaster prevention, will check the safety management of every energy facility such as nuclear stations, petroleum reserves and thermal power plants starting next month, according to the ministry.

It will also look into the earthquake-resistance guidelines on such installations, as well as response plans for cyberattacks.

Based on the committee’s research, the ministry said it will draw up the final comprehensive disaster-controlling plan on energy facilities before the end of the year.

The move came after the country was struck by a magnitude 5.8 quake on Sept. 12, with the epicenter close to Gyeongju, some 371 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

Many raise concerns over the safety of nuclear power plants, most of which are located near the epicenter, as the region has been continuously rocked by hundreds of aftershocks since then.

(theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)