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Steps urged to prevent possible transport crisis
Concern is growing over a possible transport crisis due to the shortage of urea, which is the main component of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), an essential additive needed to cut emissions from diesel engines. The government has been scrambling to find solutions to minimize the possible impact the shortage will have on the proprietors of freight trucks and other diesel-powered vehicles. It is also mobilizing all possible steps to secure a sufficient supply for fire service and emergency vehicles.
The Ministry of Finance and Economy issued an executive order Thursday to prevent people from seeking commercials profit by exploiting the urea shortage. They will be prohibited from either hoarding or not discharging stocks of urea or DEF, and will face punishment for not abiding by the order, the ministry said.
The government is seeking to resume negotiations with China to call on it to promptly conduct export checks as domestic companies have been heavily dependent on Chinese firms for the supply of urea. The government has also decided to explore ways to import the chemical from countries other than China through the overseas trade offices of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).
Reflecting on the urgency of the matter, the National Security Council (NSC) held a meeting Thursday, presided over by chief presidential secretary Yoo Young-min and participated in by officials from relevant ministries ― foreign affairs, environment, and industry, trade and energy ― and related industry representatives.
Once any overseas company is confirmed to be able to provide urea, the procurement authorities will immediately sign a purchase agreement, while exploring ways to expand purchases by private firms. The price of urea has recently skyrocketed 10 tenfold. Yet what matters more is the severe shortage of the chemical rather than the soaring price. The government should redouble its efforts to persuade China to ease its export curbs on the chemical.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, 3.3 million freight vehicles handle domestic transportation services. And 2 million of them cannot be operated without urea as they have more modern engines that comply with environmental standards for diesel vehicles.
The government deserves harsh criticism for having failed to take the necessary steps to forestall the shortage of this essential chemical compound, with 97.7 percent of imports coming from China. No countries in Europe, nor Japan, are suffering such a setback as they have little reliance on China. Furthermore, the government has failed to create local stocks of the compound. Though it is considering chemically modifying industrial urea for use in diesel vehicles, this will take some considerable time due to multiple technical issues.
Rather than long-term planning, the government now needs to focus on short-term solutions to prevent the current situation from evolving into a major transport crisis. It should mobilize all possible diplomatic channels to nudge China to mitigate its export restrictions. If necessary, the government should provide assistance to relevant companies to resume production of the agent to reach a sufficient supply level.
