Industrial demand for electricity reaches 7-yr high in Nov.

SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- Electricity demand from industries in South Korea
surged to a seven-year high in November mainly due to expanded consumption by
businesses amid a rebound in global markets, the government said Monday.
Sales of electricity for industrial use amounted 18.11 million megawatt-hour last
month, up 12 percent from the same month a year earlier, according to the
Ministry of Knowledge Economy. This marked the largest on-year expansion since
January 2002 when demand rose 13.5 percent, it added.
The ministry attributed the spike in electricity consumption to
steadily-improving global markets, which encouraged local companies to ramp up
production and facility operation.
Power demand from the steel sector jumped 26 percent from a year ago, while
demand from chemical and machinery sectors rose 16.6 percent and 16.3 percent,
respectively, the ministry added.
Power sales to households also rose 8.6 percent to 33.53 million megawatt-hour
over the same period, according to the ministry.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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