Ulsan Voluntary Agreement Companies for Fine Dust Reduction Achieve Record 123% of Target

4-Year Agreement Implementation Significantly Reduces Air Pollutant Emissions

29 Companies Cut Emissions by 58% Compared to 2014

Korea East-West Power Cuts 2,900 Tons, Achieving Highest Reduction of 82%

Companies participating in the fine dust reduction project promoted by Ulsan City have achieved a reduction in air pollutant emissions far exceeding the target. The results showed an impressive 123% surpassing of the goal.

This is the performance of 29 companies that signed agreements with Ulsan City and have been implementing fine dust reduction projects over four years.

On October 24, 2018, Ulsan City, together with the Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office, signed a “Voluntary Agreement for Fine Dust Reduction by Companies” with the top 29 companies emitting large amounts of air pollutants, aiming to reduce four types of air pollutants (dust, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and volatile organic compounds) by 40% compared to 2014 levels.

According to the agreement, each company invested approximately 560 billion KRW over four years in air pollution reduction facilities, such as installing low-NOx boilers and improving air pollution prevention facilities, to reduce air pollutant emissions.

With the agreement period ending at the end of last year, Ulsan City analyzed the air pollutant emissions of participating companies to evaluate compliance.

The analysis showed that the 29 companies collectively reduced a total of 87,200 tons of air pollutants over the four years from 2019 to 2022. This figure exceeded the original target by approximately 123%.

By workplace, in the final year of the agreement, 2022, Korea East-West Power Co., Ltd. recorded the highest reduction rate of 82%, reducing nitrogen oxides, a primary cause of fine dust, by about 2,900 tons compared to 2014.

Following were LX Hausys Ltd. with a 74% reduction rate and Moorim P&P Co., Ltd. with 73%.

An official from Ulsan City stated, “Thanks to the voluntary and active participation of the workplaces, we achieved significant results in reducing air pollutant emissions. We will continue to strive to create a clean Ulsan sky free from fine dust worries.”

Following this agreement, on February 9 of this year, Ulsan City also signed a “Voluntary Agreement for Fine Dust Reduction by Companies” with the Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office, the Southeast Region Fine Dust Research and Management Center, and 31 companies, aiming to reduce air pollutant emissions by 40% compared to the baseline year from 2023 to 2024.

Under the agreement, Ulsan City and the Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office will annually verify the compliance of participating companies and provide necessary support such as information for air quality improvement. Incentives, including reductions in basic emission charges, will be offered to outstanding workplaces.

Additionally, the Southeast Region Fine Dust Research and Management Center will provide technical advice to companies for fine dust reduction, and participating companies will implement multifaceted measures such as installing and improving prevention facilities to reduce air pollutant emissions.