Pohang City, Gyeongbuk Province, and Ministry of Environment Battery Resource Circulation Cluster Project Agreement
50 Billion KRW Invested by 2024 to Establish Research Support Complex in Blue Valley Industrial Complex
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Trainee Reporter Lee Seryeong] Pohang City, Gyeongbuk Province, held the ‘Battery Leading City Pohang International Conference 2021 (POBATT 2021)’ on the 23rd to share the development direction and technology trends of the battery industry, a future core growth engine.
The conference was conducted in a hybrid format, both online and offline, attended by Minister of Environment Han Jeong-ae, Governor of Gyeongbuk Lee Cheol-woo, and Mayor of Pohang Lee Kang-deok.
Under the theme ‘The Future of K-Battery and Pohang,’ discussions and expert lectures were held on the future of K-Battery, the development direction of Pohang’s battery industry, battery recycling, and the current status of next-generation battery technologies.
In Part 1, there was a keynote speech titled ‘Battery Heart City Pohang, Leading the Future of Top-tier K-Battery’ by Mayor Lee Kang-deok, followed by presentations on ‘The Future of Electric Vehicle Secondary Batteries’ by Professor Choi Jang-wook of Seoul National University, and ‘Opportunities and Challenges of K-Battery’ by Kim Gwang-joo, CEO of SNE Research.
In Part 2, presentations were given on various topics including ‘Policy Directions for Battery Circular Economy to Achieve Carbon Neutrality’ by Director Jo Ji-hye of the Korea Environment Institute, and presentations by Senior Researcher Son Jeong-su of the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Senior Researcher Mark Lu of ITRI, Executive Director Lee Beom-wook of TMR, and CEO Park Seok-jun of EcoproCnG.
In the Part 3 panel discussion, opinions were exchanged on fostering and supporting the post-electric vehicle battery recycling industry.
The city signed a ‘Business Agreement for the Creation of a Post-Electric Vehicle Battery Resource Circulation Cluster Project’ with the Ministry of Environment and Gyeongsangbuk-do at the conference.
The three organizations agreed to join forces to focus on fostering the post-electric vehicle battery recycling industry, establishing a circular economy, and promoting the battery resource circulation cluster project.
Through this agreement, the Ministry of Environment and Pohang City plan to invest a total project cost of 49.8 billion KRW by 2024 to establish a research support complex equipped with demonstration facilities in the Pohang Blue Valley National Industrial Complex, and to establish support measures necessary for technology development, commercialization, and workforce training for recycling companies.
Mayor Lee Kang-deok said in his opening remarks, “The era of secondary batteries is approaching, and the value of the battery industry, which will be the core of future transportation means including electric vehicles, is emerging,” adding, “Pohang City will focus on standing tall as a K-Battery hub city with international competitiveness.”
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