Amid rising concerns about fine dust levels in the nation, the government is mulling halting the operation of thermoelectric power plants that are more than 40 years old.
 
An official of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Wednesday that the government is devising comprehensive measures to counter fine dust under the supervision of the Office for Government Policy Coordination.
 
Under the inter-ministerial plan, the Trade Ministry will focus on shutting down old thermoelectric power plants or turning them into more environment-friendly liquefied natural gas facilities. 
 
Currently, there are 53 coal-fired thermal power plants in total in the nation. Eleven of them have been operating for more than 30 years and three have been operating for over 40 years.
 
Old thermoelectric power plants are being blamed as one of the main culprits of fine dust pollution, along with diesel cars.