Beatrice Lang
North Korea faces a severe electricity shortage, with the majority of its citizens enduring rolling blackouts and limited access to power. While the North Korean government does not release official data, estimates suggest that in 2020, the country's total electricity supply ranged from 14 to 23.9 terawatt-hours. This shortage has led to an uneven distribution of electricity, with priority given to essential facilities, the capital city of Pyongyang, and areas close to the border with China. The lack of consistent and adequate electricity has hindered economic development and impacted the daily lives of North Koreans, who have resorted to creative methods to access power.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Electricity in North Korea | Not available to all citizens |
| Electricity supply | Hydro and coal are the primary sources of power |
| Access to electricity | 52.63% of the population had access to electricity in 2021 |
| Electricity usage | Many households are restricted to 2 hours of power per day |
| Per capita electricity consumption | Fell from 1247 kilowatt hours in 1990 to 712 kilowatt hours in 2000 |
| Electricity distribution | Uneven, with priority given to construction projects in the capital, Pyongyang |
| Power plants | Small and medium-sized power plants have been implemented since 2000 |
| Hydropower | Hydro supplies the largest portion of electricity, with an increasing number of hydropower stations |
| Renewable energy | An official claimed 70% of the country's energy came from renewables in 2021 |
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What You'll Learn
- North Korea's energy sector is defined by a lack of transparency, with the state not releasing data on power generation
- The country's primary sources of electricity are hydroelectric power and coal
- There is an uneven distribution of electricity, with the capital Pyongyang receiving priority
- Rural residents face frequent power outages, with some areas only receiving one hour of electricity per day
- The regime has promised to address the electricity shortage, but progress has been inadequate
North Korea's energy sector is defined by a lack of transparency, with the state not releasing data on power generation
North Korea's energy sector is notoriously opaque, with the state withholding data on power generation and capacity. This lack of transparency makes it challenging to fully grasp the country's energy situation. However, it is clear that North Korea struggles with chronic electricity shortages, resulting in rolling blackouts across the nation, even in the capital, Pyongyang.
The World Bank estimated that in 2021, only 52.63% of North Korea's population had access to electricity. These numbers highlight the stark reality of the country's energy deprivation, where many households are restricted to limited power, sometimes as little as one or two hours per day. The situation is particularly dire in rural areas, with some regions receiving only one hour of electricity daily, solely for cooking purposes.
Pyongyang, the capital, receives priority in power distribution, leading to allegations of electricity diversion from other provinces to keep the city powered. This has resulted in a stark contrast in living standards, with Pyongyang residents enjoying well-lit streets while those in other regions struggle with basic needs. The government's focus on construction projects in the capital further exacerbates the uneven distribution of electricity, as all power is rerouted to ensure round-the-clock construction.
The North Korean government has made repeated promises to address the electricity shortage, but their efforts have yet to yield significant results. The country relies primarily on hydropower and coal for electricity production, with a recent increase in the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar panels. However, the lack of transparency from the state makes it challenging to accurately assess the current energy landscape and the effectiveness of their initiatives.
The scarcity of official data has led to varying foreign estimates of North Korea's energy production and capacity. Statistics Korea and the Nautilus Institute, two widely cited sources, offer differing assessments. While they agree that hydropower is the largest source of electricity, their estimates differ significantly in overall power generation output and thermal power production capacity. This discrepancy underscores the challenges in understanding North Korea's energy sector and the need for more transparent data from the state.
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The country's primary sources of electricity are hydroelectric power and coal
North Korea's primary sources of electricity are hydroelectric power and coal. The country has a preference for hydropower, which has led to shortages in winter when there is little rainfall and ice blocks the flow of rivers. In 2009, North Korea's primary energy use was 224 TWh and 9 TWh per million people.
Kim Jong Il implemented plans to construct large hydroelectric power stations across the country. However, this has resulted in an overreliance on hydropower, with insufficient alternative sources to compensate during winter months. The country also imports crude oil from a pipeline in China, which is refined at the Ponghwa Chemical Factory in Sinuiju, North Korea. There is also a smaller oil refinery, the Sŭngri Refinery, located on the Russian border.
North Korea has experienced challenges in meeting its energy demands, with priority often given to manufacturing plants and important government facilities. Households may be restricted to limited power, with some rural areas receiving as little as one hour of electricity per day. The capital, Pyongyang, receives diverted electricity from other provinces to maintain a continuous power supply. This has resulted in a disparity between urban and rural areas, with rural residents facing power shortages while the capital enjoys a more stable supply.
To address energy shortages, North Korea has embraced renewable energy solutions. By 2019, it was estimated that 55% of North Korean households used solar panels, contributing to a more stable electricity supply and reducing the duration of any blackouts. The adoption of solar energy demonstrates North Korea's efforts to diversify its energy sources and improve energy access for its citizens.
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There is an uneven distribution of electricity, with the capital Pyongyang receiving priority
North Korea faces a severe electricity shortage, with only 52.63% of its population having access to electricity as of 2021. The country's primary sources of power are hydroelectric and coal-fired power plants. However, there is an uneven distribution of electricity, with the capital, Pyongyang, receiving priority.
Pyongyang has been given priority in electricity supply due to several factors. One reason is the construction projects in the city, such as Kim Jong-un's promise to build 50,000 new homes by 2025, including 10,000 by the end of 2021. To meet these ambitious targets, the government reroutes power from other provinces to ensure construction can continue around the clock. This has led to a stark contrast between the well-lit streets of Pyongyang and the rural areas, where residents struggle with limited power, sometimes restricted to only one or two hours per day.
Another factor contributing to the uneven distribution is the demand from important government facilities, factories, and hospitals, which receive a steady supply of electricity. As a result, rolling blackouts are common in residential areas, and some rural parts of the country are affected more severely than others. Areas close to the border with China also receive more electricity as the government aims to project a positive image to the outside world.
The North Korean government has attempted to address the electricity shortage by implementing a system of small and medium-sized power plants starting in 2000. These plants are designed to meet the demands of small factories and homes. However, these efforts have been inadequate, with North Korea's generating capacity rising by only 64% over four decades, compared to a 1,275% increase in South Korea during the same period.
The chronic power shortage has had significant economic implications, hindering industrial production and keeping living standards low. It has also led to creative and sometimes illegal solutions, with residents finding ways to access reliable power. Some government officials and wealthy individuals can bribe power station officials or tap into industrial wires, exacerbating the inequality in electricity distribution. Overall, the uneven distribution of electricity in North Korea, with Pyongyang receiving priority, is a complex issue with social, political, and economic dimensions.
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Rural residents face frequent power outages, with some areas only receiving one hour of electricity per day
North Korea faces a severe electricity shortage, with only 52.63% of its population having access to electricity as of 2021. The situation is particularly dire for rural residents, who experience frequent power outages and limited access to electricity. While the capital city, Pyongyang, receives priority in power allocation, rural areas often face rolling blackouts, with some regions receiving as little as one hour of electricity per day.
The disparity in electricity supply between urban and rural areas has widened in recent years. Pyongyang has been undergoing construction projects, including the development of 50,000 new homes by 2025, which has led to the rerouting of power from other provinces to ensure continuous construction. This has resulted in rural residents facing longer and more frequent power outages.
The North Korean government has prioritized electricity supply to factories, hospitals, and other important government facilities, while residential areas face restrictions. This has led to a thriving black market for electricity, with residents finding creative ways to access power. Some individuals bribe officials or tap into industrial wires, risking punishment if discovered.
The country's electricity generation capacity has lagged compared to its neighbor, South Korea, which has achieved a 1,275% increase in power generation over the same period. North Korea's primary sources of electricity are hydropower and coal, with efforts to expand small- and medium-sized power plants to meet demands. However, these initiatives have been insufficient in addressing the country's chronic power shortages.
The lack of consistent and adequate electricity has hindered North Korea's economic development, impacting industrial production and living standards. While solar panels have become more common on rooftops and balconies, they are often a result of individual initiatives rather than a coordinated push for renewable energy solutions. The government's inability to provide a stable electricity supply has forced residents to resort to unconventional and sometimes dangerous methods to access power.
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The regime has promised to address the electricity shortage, but progress has been inadequate
North Korea faces a significant electricity shortage, with many households restricted to only a few hours of power per day, if they have access to electricity at all. While the regime has repeatedly promised to address this issue, progress has been inadequate, and the country continues to struggle with an uneven distribution of power and frequent blackouts.
The North Korean government has undertaken various initiatives to boost the country's power production over the years. In 2000, they introduced a system of small and medium-sized power plants intended to meet electricity demands in both small factories and homes. This strategy has continued, with the development of new networks of small-scale hydropower plants serving local areas. However, these efforts have fallen short, with North Korea's generating capacity rising only 64% over the last four decades, compared to a 1,275% increase in South Korea during the same period.
The country's electricity supply is heavily reliant on hydroelectric power and coal. While hydro currently provides the largest portion of electricity, there has been a recent emphasis on increasing power generation from this source, with several new hydropower stations coming online. Additionally, the government has invested in solar energy, with solar panels becoming increasingly common on rooftops and balconies across the country. However, these panels are often a result of individual initiatives rather than a government push for green energy solutions.
The capital city of Pyongyang is given priority when it comes to electricity distribution, with residents typically receiving power every day, although blackouts still occur. In contrast, rural areas face more severe shortages, with some regions only receiving one hour of power per day or even less. This disparity has negatively impacted economic development, hindered industrial production, and kept living standards low across the country.
The regime has attempted to address the housing shortage in Pyongyang by rerouting power from other provinces to construction projects in the capital. This has led to a further divergence in electricity access between urban and rural areas, with residents of Pyongyang enjoying a relatively extravagant lifestyle, including well-lit streets, while those in the provinces struggle with basic tasks like cooking due to the lack of power.
While North Korea has made efforts to increase power generation and improve access to electricity, the progress has been insufficient to address the country's chronic energy deprivation. The regime's promises to solve the electricity shortage have yet to materialize into tangible improvements for the majority of North Koreans, who continue to face severe energy shortages and an uneven distribution of power.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there is electricity in North Korea, but it is not accessible to everyone. The capital, Pyongyang, is given priority, and even there, residents usually go without power for some parts of the day. In other areas, electricity is often unavailable in people's homes, and some rural parts of the country only get one hour of power per day.
North Korea has implemented a system of small and medium-sized power plants to meet electricity demands. However, these efforts have been inadequate, with a much lower growth in total electrical power generation capacity compared to South Korea. The country's primary sources of power are hydro and coal, with hydro supplying the largest portion of electricity.
People in North Korea have found creative ways to access reliable power, such as bribing officials at power stations or factories to steal electricity by attaching individual power lines to the plant. Solar panels are also becoming more common on homes across the country.
