The Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) will hold a roundtable meeting on July 11 in the afternoon at the Koreana Hotel (located in Jung-gu, Seoul) to discuss the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure and support measures for the overseas expansion of the domestic electric vehicle charging industry, and to gather expert opinions.

The Ministry announced that from July 11 to 13, the Ministry dispatched the Green Industry Support Group (led by Director-General Geum Han-seung of the Climate Change and Carbon Neutral Policy Office as the Director) to Laos to establish a cooperative framework between the two governments for Korean green industry companies. The aim is to support large-scale projects such as floating solar power generation and landfill gas power generation in Laos, enabling domestic green industry companies to proceed with these ventures. 

Phoxay Xayason, the Minister of Energy and Mines in Laos, had a bilateral meeting with Director Geum Han-seung on July 12 in the capital city of Laos, Vientiane. They agreed to actively cooperate in a KRW 360 billion floating solar power project being pursued by Korean companies in Laos. They also decided to explore the possibility of exporting renewable energy produced from floating solar power to neighboring countries such as Thailand.

In addition, Ngampasong Muongmany, the Minister of Public Works and Transport in Laos, and Director Geum Han-seung made a commitment during the bilateral meeting held on the same day to mutually cooperate in promoting the adoption of eco-friendly vehicles utilizing Laos' abundant renewable energy in the transportation sector for carbon neutrality. Based on this agreement with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport in Laos, the Ministry of Environment plans to explore additional cooperative projects for the expansion of the electric vehicle charging industry and the promotion of electric vehicles.

During the meeting on July 13, Bounkham Vorachit, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment in Laos, raised the topic of cooperation for carbon neutrality. Director Geum Han-seung and Minister Vorachit agreed to support the landfill gas power generation project pursued by Korean companies at the Vientiane landfill site and to enter into a greenhouse gas international reduction commitment that recognizes greenhouse gas emission reduction achievements. As a result, it is expected that the Vientiane landfill gas power generation project will acquire emission rights for 225,000 tons of greenhouse gases annually.

Furthermore, Director Geum, along with Chanthanet Boualapha, the Vice Minister of Natural Resources and Environment in Laos, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on environmental cooperation. The MOU aims to promote the dissemination of South Korea's environmental policies in Laos and support the entry of Korean green industries into Laos. This agreement will facilitate collaboration and mutual support in various environmental initiatives between the two countries. 

The Ministry of Environment has set a target of KRW 20 trillion for this year and KRW 100 trillion within their term for the effects of procurement and export. In the first half of the year, the Ministry dispatched green industry support groups to 16 countries and provided support for projects with a total value of KRW 10.15 trillion, including green hydrogen, waste-to-energy, and sewage treatment plant construction, among others, aimed at procurement and export.

Director Geum Han-seung stated, "As the leading ministry for carbon neutrality, we will dispatch green industry support groups to at least seven more countries in the second half of this year. Through expanding the scope of green industries, which focus on low-carbon and green emerging sectors, we will achieve our goals for this year."

Contact: Keum Byoung-uk, Deputy Director

Green International Project TF / +82-(0)44-201-7563