POSCO Gwangyang No.4 Blast Furnace, Third Renovation... "90% Reduction in Fine Dust"

Gwangyang Steelworks No.4 Blast Furnace 3rd Stove Operation Ignition Ceremony Held on the 10th

Chairman Choi Jeong-woo: "POSCO, Please Become the Pillar of the Group"

Panorama of the No. 4 Blast Furnace at Gwangyang Steelworks. (Photo by POSCO)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] POSCO announced on the 10th that it has successfully completed the second refurbishment of Blast Furnace No. 4 at the Gwangyang Steelworks. With the successful completion of the 'refurbishment' process, which involves completely shutting down the furnace and renovating the equipment, the Gwangyang Steelworks has been reborn for the third time.

On the same day, POSCO held a lighting ceremony for Blast Furnace No. 4 at the Gwangyang Steelworks, attended by group representatives and executives including Group Chairman Choi Jeong-woo, Vice Chairman Kim Hak-dong, POSCO Engineering & Construction President Han Seong-hee, POSCO Chemical President Min Kyung-jun, and POSCO ICT President Jeong Deok-gyun. Chairman Choi said, "Today is a meaningful day as Gwangyang Blast Furnace No. 4 has been reborn as a world-class competitive premium blast furnace through your precious sweat and efforts, and it is also the 100th day since the group transitioned to a holding company system. Like the blast furnace, a symbol of the steelworks, I hope POSCO will further solidify its world-class status and become a strong pillar for the group."

Gwangyang Blast Furnace No. 4 was completed and began operations in September 1992 with a capacity of 3,800㎥. It was expanded to 5,500㎥ through the first refurbishment in 2009, and this time the second refurbishment was successfully completed. Although the capacity remains the same as after the first refurbishment, the system has been upgraded. Specifically, the refurbishment focused on ▲ implementing a safe workplace through modernization of aging equipment ▲ investing in environmental facilities to reduce air pollutants ▲ enhancing cost competitiveness through the establishment of a smart blast furnace system. Notably, environmental facility investments were increased by newly applying a clean breather for blast gas and adding dust collection equipment inside piping facilities, reducing fine dust emissions by up to 90% compared to existing blast furnaces, thereby raising eco-friendly manufacturing competitiveness. Artificial intelligence (AI) that predicts and automatically controls overall blast furnace operations was combined with the know-how of skilled field workers accumulated over several years to reduce fuel and raw material costs and further enhance operational stability.

The project was carried out over one and a half years. A total of 370.3 billion KRW was invested, and approximately 270,000 person-days were involved. This significantly contributed to revitalizing the local economy.

POSCO plans to lead carbon emission reduction by optimizing the operation of Blast Furnace No. 4 to reduce coal consumption. POSCO intends to invest 20 trillion KRW by 2026 in improving steelmaking process efficiency and investing in eco-friendly facilities. Through this, it plans to transition to an 'eco-friendly' production system. The goal is to continuously grow as a leading company in eco-friendly future materials while solidifying its position as the world's top steel competitor.