Pohang City Declares Itself a 'Secondary Battery City', Hosts 'POBATT 2020' International Conference

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] On the 3rd, Pohang City in Gyeongbuk opened the 'POBATT 2020 Battery Leading City Pohang International Conference' at the POSCO International Hall, sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and Gyeongbuk Province, and hosted by SNE Research and Gyeongbuk TP (Technopark).

Due to COVID-19, the number of on-site participants was limited to 50. The conference continues until the 4th with presentations by session on the first day followed by on-site tours on the second day.

In a congratulatory video message, Minister of Environment Cho Myung-rae said, "In the era of climate crisis, as we have been actively promoting the Green New Deal since last July to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, I am very pleased that a conference discussing the future of core industries such as electric vehicle batteries and recycling technology development is being held."

Minister of SMEs and Startups Park Young-sun promised, "We will develop the Gyeongbuk Pohang Battery Recycling Regulatory Free Zone into an advanced base for future strategic industries and a cradle of regional innovation growth."

On the first day, Jeong Geun-chang, Vice President of LG Energy Solution, delivered the keynote speech titled "Secondary Battery Industry Mega Trends and Response Strategies." This was followed by nine session presentations including a presentation by Lim Dong-jun, Chairman of Korea Umicore, on "Battery Recycling Technology and Future." On the 3rd, on-site tours of companies such as EcoPro GEM and EcoPro BM are scheduled.

Mayor Lee Kang-deok of Pohang emphasized, "As the market for the new growth industry of secondary batteries is rapidly expanding, we will promote various projects to enable Pohang to emerge as a global battery mecca city through the activation of the Battery Regulatory Free Zone."

Meanwhile, Pohang City declared itself as the "Secondary Battery City Pohang" last year aiming to restructure its industrial structure from a single steel industry. In July of the same year, it was designated as a "Secondary Battery Recycling Regulatory Free Zone" and held a battery forum. This year, significant achievements have been made with battery-related companies entering one after another, including the groundbreaking ceremony of POSCO Chemical in July and the groundbreaking ceremony of EcoPro EM, a joint venture with Samsung SDI, in November.