Gyeonggi Province Holds Emergency Situation Assessment Meeting on Diesel Exhaust Fluid and Discusses Response Plan

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province will implement emergency response measures to overcome the diesel exhaust fluid shortage crisis, including actively supporting provincial personnel in the government's crackdowns on price gouging and hoarding, while restricting the use of diesel vehicles centered on Gyeonggi Province, cities and counties, and public institutions.

Acting Governor Oh Byung-kwon held an emergency video conference on diesel exhaust fluid on the morning of the 8th with vice heads of 31 cities and counties in the province to discuss current market conditions and response measures.

Acting Governor Oh stated, "If this situation continues to persist, there are concerns not only about public transportation such as buses closely connected to residents' daily lives and logistics, but also about operational disruptions to emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances. Since related government agencies have begun preparing countermeasures, I ask that you actively cooperate with central government policies while considering and implementing measures that can be taken at the local government level."

Accordingly, the province plans to actively cooperate with the intensive crackdowns on price gouging being jointly promoted by government ministries. In addition, the province is considering strengthening air quality monitoring and requesting the province, 31 cities and counties, and public institutions to restrict usage except for essential diesel vehicles.

The province is monitoring the operational status of buses and taxis, expecting that if the diesel exhaust fluid shortage continues long-term, there will be disruptions to public transportation operations such as buses.

In the event of operational disruptions, the province plans to establish emergency transportation measures targeting affected areas and routes.

Diesel vehicles in the province that use diesel exhaust fluid number 414,656 private vehicles, 7,273 buses (city, intercity, and village buses), 245 taxis and rental cars, and 128,893 cargo trucks.

For companies facing difficulties due to the diesel exhaust fluid shortage, the province plans to identify staffing needs for related companies to expand short-term supply volumes and understand companies' difficulties to make recommendations to the government.