Gwangyang Steelworks Leads Eco-Friendly Steel Production with Integrated Environmental Management

Launch of Integrated Permit Voluntary Compliance Management Council

Yeongsangang Environmental Office, Jeonnam Province, Gwangyang City, Korea Environment Corporation, etc.

POSCO Gwangyang Steelworks (Director Lee Jin-su) announced on the 6th that it has taken a step closer to realizing an eco-friendly steelworks by launching the ‘POSCO Gwangyang Integrated Permit Voluntary Compliance Management Council’ at the Gwangyang Steelworks Headquarters meeting room, together with the Yeongsan River Basin Environmental Office, Jeollanam-do Province, Gwangyang City, Korea Environment Corporation, and external experts.

Attendees at the launch ceremony included Park Yeon-jae, Head of the Yeongsan River Basin Environmental Office; Jang Jeong-ho, Deputy Director of the Safety and Environment Department; Jo Su-hwan, Manager of Korea Environment Corporation; Professor Park Sang-sook of Suncheon National University; Professor Kim Eun-sik of Chonnam National University; officials from Jeollanam-do and Gwangyang City; and other council members.

[Photo by Gwangyang Steelworks]

The ‘POSCO Gwangyang Integrated Permit Voluntary Compliance Management Council’ was established with the purpose of Gwangyang Steelworks, as the world’s largest integrated steelworks, building a more systematic environmental management process and taking the lead in realizing an eco-friendly steelworks, in collaboration with the Yeongsan River Basin Environmental Office and external experts.

The integrated environmental management system consolidates the previously separate permit systems, which were classified into 11 media such as water quality and air quality, into a single, effective permit system at the business site level, strengthening compliance management to drive substantial environmental improvements and enhance effectiveness.

Along with the integrated permit, Gwangyang Steelworks has led the pioneering implementation of integrated environmental management by meeting permit conditions granted by the Ministry of Environment, such as stricter emission standards for the coke plant and blast furnace, and the installation of prevention facilities like denitrification equipment.

Through this council launch ceremony, Gwangyang Steelworks plans to establish a more systematic environmental improvement plan and management based on consulting by specialized firms according to the statutory regular inspection checklist.

Notably, the significance is deeper as the steelworks is not stopping at improvement activities but actively leading environmental improvements by adding continuous performance reporting meetings and on-site verification processes.

Jang Jeong-ho, Deputy Director of the Safety and Environment Department, said, “We expect to establish a more systematic environmental management process through the launch of this council,” and added, “As a specialized steelworks for eco-friendly mobility materials, we will take the lead in continuous environmental investment and thorough facility management.”

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr