POSCO Reduces Fine Dust with Eco-Friendly Clean Facilities

Pohang Steelworks Sinter Plant SCR Facility Completion Ceremony Held... NOX Emissions Reduced by Up to 80%

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] POSCO has taken a step closer to building an eco-friendly steelworks by operating clean facilities that significantly reduce nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions.

POSCO held a completion ceremony for the sintering plant SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) facility at the Pohang Steelworks sintering plant on the 10th, attended by Nam Soo-hee, head of Pohang Steelworks, and Lee Kang-deok, mayor of Pohang.

Nitrogen oxides are air pollutants that chemically react with water vapor, ozone, and others in the air to generate fine dust. The SCR facility is a clean facility that uses catalysts to decompose nitrogen oxides contained in combustion gases into nitrogen (N2) and water vapor (H2O).

The sintering plant processes powdered iron ore mixed with auxiliary materials such as limestone and heats them to produce sintered ore, a homogeneous lump form. Nitrogen and sulfur components contained in raw and auxiliary materials meet oxygen during combustion and are emitted as air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides.

With the completion of the SCR, nitrogen oxide emissions from the sintering plant are expected to decrease from 140-160 ppm before SCR installation to 30-40 ppm, a reduction of up to 80%.

POSCO expanded the eco-friendly sintering process, which includes dust removal, desulfurization, and denitrification, established in 2011 at the Gwangyang Steelworks sintering plants, to the Pohang Steelworks. Notably, over the past two years, a total of 105,738 construction workers participated in the SCR installation, contributing to regional economic revitalization through job creation.

Nam Soo-hee, head of POSCO Pohang Steelworks, stated, "The results of multifaceted efforts to reduce fine dust are becoming visible. Going forward, POSCO will continue to fulfill its responsible role in environmental issues and secure future competitiveness in the steel industry by building eco-friendly facilities for a clean and clear future."

In response, Lee Kang-deok, mayor of Pohang, said, "Despite the difficult economy and contraction of corporate activities, I appreciate your continuous interest and efforts to improve our region's environment."

Meanwhile, POSCO announced a 1 trillion won investment plan by 2021 in 2019 to reduce air pollutants. Currently, at Pohang and Gwangyang Steelworks, SCR installation on by-product gas power generation facilities, high-efficiency rationalization, installation of eco-friendly combined power generators to replace aging power facilities, and installation of eight enclosed coal storage facilities are underway. A total investment of 970 billion won is expected to be executed by the end of this year. Additionally, POSCO is promoting the development of eco-friendly management systems using smart technologies, such as building a TMS (Tele-Monitoring System) to monitor air pollutant emissions in real time and an air environment management system equipped with air quality forecasting functions.

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