S-OIL Produces 'Low-Carbon and Eco-Friendly Products' Based on Bio and Circular Raw Materials

Waste cooking oil, palm by-products, etc.
First domestic refinery to incorporate bio raw materials into the process

Workers are taking a commemorative photo before unloading a tank lorry carrying bio raw materials and pyrolysis oil from waste plastics at the S-OIL Onsan plant. Photo by S-OIL

S-OIL began introducing initial quantities of bio raw materials (waste cooking oil, palm by-products, etc.) and pyrolysis oil from waste plastics on the 29th of this month to produce low-carbon energy and eco-friendly chemical products.

By co-processing bio raw materials and plastic pyrolysis oil together with crude oil in existing refining processes, the company has started producing low-carbon fuel oils with low carbon intensity (such as sustainable aviation fuel and next-generation biodiesel) and eco-friendly petrochemical raw materials (naphtha, polypropylene, etc.).

This is the first time a domestic refining company has introduced bio raw materials into the refining process. S-OIL received regulatory sandbox approvals for processing pyrolysis oil from waste plastics and bio raw materials in July and December of last year, respectively. Following this, it swiftly completed preparations such as installing raw material input facilities and began process integration. Accordingly, over the next two years, S-OIL plans to adjust the mixing ratios of new alternative raw materials while evaluating overall product yield changes and process impacts to expand the production volume of eco-friendly products.

To respond to the global decarbonization trend, S-OIL formed a 'Partnership for Eco-friendly Hydrogen and Biofuel Business' with Samsung C&T in 2021, and in December last year, it signed a partnership with DS Dansuk to establish a supply chain for eco-friendly low-carbon fuels and chemical product raw materials.

An S-OIL representative stated, "To fully launch our eco-friendly energy and chemical business, we will pursue international certification (ISCC) for products made using alternative raw materials, concretize the carbon emission reduction effects, and contribute to the government's eco-friendly energy policies and the establishment of a circular economy."