Capturing Carbon Dioxide from By-product Gases at Pohang Steelworks
Demonstrating Technology to Recycle into Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen
Aiming for "Carbon Neutrality"... Boosting the Local Economy Expected
LG Chem and POSCO Holdings are ramping up their collaboration to achieve carbon neutrality. The two companies are taking the lead in demonstrating carbon reduction technologies in the steel industry, which is the number one industrial sector for carbon dioxide emissions.
On May 7, POSCO Holdings and LG Chem announced that they will participate in the "National Project for Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) in the Steel Industry" to develop carbon reduction technologies. POSCO Holdings is forming a "Steel Industry CCU Consortium" with LG Chem, the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, and North Gyeongsang Province, and will participate in the "CCU Mega Project" promoted by the Ministry of Science and ICT.
A view of the Methane Dry Reforming (DRM) plant located at LG Chem Daesan Plant in Seosan, Chungnam. LG Chem
When carbon dioxide is captured from by-product gases generated at the POSCO Pohang Steelworks in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, LG Chem's Dry Reforming of Methane (DRM) technology is used to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The carbon monoxide and hydrogen produced in this way can be used as metal reducing agents instead of coal. By using carbon dioxide and methane as raw materials to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which are used as reducing agents, it is possible to reduce the amount of coal used in steelmaking processes.
The CCU Consortium proposed the Pohang Steelworks as the demonstration site and received final approval from the Ministry of Science and ICT in October last year. After a preliminary feasibility study this year, the consortium aims to launch the demonstration project next year. The plan is to build the facilities at the Pohang Steelworks by 2028 and continue demonstration operations until 2030. The two companies, representing the chemical and steel industries, stated that this collaboration will significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Lee Jongku, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Executive Vice President of LG Chem, said, "This collaboration marks an important turning point in opening the era of carbon neutrality led jointly by the steel and chemical industries," and added, "LG Chem will continue to pursue challenges and growth to lead global industrial carbon reduction and sustainable innovation technologies, rather than remaining within the boundaries of existing industrial structures."
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