South Korea’s 532 MW Anma offshore wind project is facing a serious delay after a military-related permit issue blocked a key pre-construction approval.
The $3.5 billion project is planned about 24 miles west of South Korea’s southwestern coast. It was selected in the 2024 fixed-price wind power auction and had been moving toward completion in 2029. The wind farm is expected to use 38 turbines, each rated at 14 MW, supplied by Siemens Gamesa.
The project area reportedly overlaps with a maritime zone used by the Agency for Defense Development for weapons testing. As a result, Anma has not secured the public waters occupation and use permit required before construction. The permit is approved through the Ministry of National Defense.
The delay has affected major supply contracts. SK Oceanplant suspended its $273 million contract to supply 38 jacket foundations. Local media reports said the suspension was made at the client’s request.
LS Cable & System also terminated its $110 million contract with Anma. The deal covered the supply and installation of onshore and offshore export cables and was scheduled from July 2025 to 1 May 2028. CS Wind has also withdrawn from the project.
The ownership structure may change as well. Singapore-based Equis, which holds a 78% stake, is reportedly offering to sell its interest to Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. The remaining shares are held by South Korean companies, including Korea Development Bank, CS Wind and Hoban Industries. Industry analysts cited in the source expect a local company may be more likely to take the stake because of the approval uncertainty.
The Anma setback comes as foreign offshore wind developers reduce their presence in South Korea. Corio Generation recently completed its exit from Korea after earlier leaving joint offshore wind projects in Busan and Ulsan. RWE also exited the 495 MW West Sea Offshore wind farm and the 510 MW Neulsaeumui offshore wind farm earlier this year.
The source points to South Korea’s complex regulatory process as a factor behind these exits. The government has moved to address the issue through the Offshore Wind Power Special Act, enacted last month. The law integrates permitting and licensing procedures into a one-stop approval system. Previously, developers needed 28 separate licenses, but the new framework requires approval from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
