GS Caltex Aims to Reduce 'Carbon Footprint' and Achieve Two Goals Simultaneously

President Heo Se-hong Completes Full Replacement of Yeosu Plant Operating Fuel with LNG

Advancing Energy Supply Stability and Climate Change Response through Eco-friendly Management

[Asia Economy Reporter Park So-yeon] Heo Se-hong, President of GS Caltex (photo), is leading efforts to strengthen ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) capabilities by improving energy efficiency, including switching the fuel used in production facilities to liquefied natural gas (LNG). President Heo aims to achieve the "two birds with one stone" of stabilizing energy supply and responding to climate change through energy efficiency and eco-friendly management.

GS Caltex announced on the 9th that it has completed the full replacement of low-sulfur fuel oil (LSFO), the operating fuel of the Yeosu plant, with LNG through process improvement work.

The reason GS Caltex undertook the fuel replacement is that LNG emits less carbon dioxide than LSFO for the same calorific value. While fuel oil emits about 76 tons of carbon dioxide per terajoule (TJ) of energy, natural gas emits 56 tons, which is only 74% of that.

Accordingly, it is analyzed that carbon dioxide emissions from facilities previously using LSFO will be reduced by more than 19%. Additionally, pollutants causing fine dust such as sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides are expected to be reduced by more than 30%.

The economic effect is also significant. Using LNG for production facility operation can reduce annual costs by a total of 11.5 billion KRW due to fuel substitution and greenhouse gas emission reduction. The LSFO previously used for production facility operation will be sold to demand markets to secure revenue.

President Heo stated, "Energy efficiency in the energy industry is a responsibility and duty in line with the call of the times," adding, "This fuel replacement for energy efficiency is a clean and safe method that can reduce greenhouse gases more effectively."

Since President Heo's inauguration last year, GS Caltex has declared its vision as "We will become the most respected energy and chemical company based on the industry's best competitiveness," and has been actively pursuing eco-friendly management. In November last year, it issued green bonds worth 130 billion KRW to expand environmental facilities at business sites.

It is also making efforts to manage environmental pollutants such as reducing air pollution, managing water resource risks and water pollution, managing hazardous substances, waste management, and preventing soil contamination. Notably, sales of eco-friendly products amount to about 500 billion KRW, accounting for 1.5% of total sales last year, and the waste recycling rate reaches 76%.

Furthermore, wastewater generated at business sites is treated beyond legal standards before discharge. Some of the wastewater from processes is recycled in the desalting facilities of crude oil refining processes. Since 2018, it has additionally reused wastewater in diesel and kerosene refining facilities, raising the overall wastewater recycling rate to about 18%.

A GS Caltex official stated, "We will further expand the eco-friendly management trend by establishing a sustainable circular economy from raw material procurement to production, sales, consumption, and recycling."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.