South Korea's state-run utilities companies will expand the use of drones in checking power stations and other facilities to improve efficiency and safety, the energy ministry said Friday.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced the plan in a meeting of drone developers, state utility firms and research institutes to expand use of the unmanned aerial vehicles in the energy sector.
The Korea Power Electric Corp., which has been using 37 drones for system maintenance since May 2016, said it plans to acquire 30 more to deploy them to all power substations and electricity distribution centers beginning in 2019.