S KOREAN ELECTRICITY DEMAND RISES SHARPLY SINCE 1991.

SEOUL, Aug 2 Asia Pulse - Electricity demand in South Korea has risen by about 2.5 million kilowatts every year since 1991 in pace with increased industrial consumption and the wide use of heat-beating devices, the Commerce Ministry said Monday.

The ministry said the demand shot up to 47.38 million kilowatts last year from 37.29 million kilowatts in 1999, 29.87 million kilowatts in 1995 and 19.12 million kilowatts in 1991.

"It means that every four years, power demand has risen by about 10 million kilowatts since 1991," a ministry official said. Citing the construction of new power facilities over the period, the official said the country' power reserves are sufficient to meet the growing demand.

"We have enough electricity reserves, but conservation efforts are necessary to prevent mishaps in the event of power failure."

The government has dismissed concern that rising demand for electricity may disrupt supply and cause a nationwide power failure at the height of summer this month.

Korea Electric Power Corp., the country's state-run power monopoly, provides free customer services for aging apartment power facilities to prevent collective power outages ...