SK Factory Also Uses Oil Made from Recycled Plastic

SK Geocentric Uses Pyrolysis Oil as Feedstock at Ulsan CLX
"First Step Toward Eco-Friendly Company Transition and Urban Oilfield Project"

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] A factory using pyrolysis oil made from waste plastic as raw material for refining and petrochemical processes has been established for the first time in Korea. Pyrolysis oil, which was mainly used for heating and power generation due to its low quality, has been transformed into an eco-friendly raw oil through post-treatment technology, making this possible.

SK Geocentric announced on the 30th that it will input pyrolysis oil as raw material into the refining and petrochemical processes at SK Innovation's Ulsan Complex (CLX). The pyrolysis oil used as raw material undergoes SK Energy's refining process and SK Geocentric's petrochemical process, just like other crude oils, and is made into petrochemical products. Pyrolysis oil, produced by decomposing used plastics at high temperatures for reuse, is a technology necessary for carbon neutrality and a circular economy, being developed jointly by the public and private sectors.

The pyrolysis oil introduced for the first time this time was produced by Jeju Clean Energy, a domestic small and medium pyrolysis company, through joint research on post-treatment conducted since 2019 by SK Geocentric and SK Innovation Environmental Science and Technology Institute. SK Geocentric plans to improve the quality and increase the input volume going forward.

Previously, the company announced a green transformation strategy to grow as an ‘urban oil field’ company that recycles waste plastic made from petroleum back into petroleum. The company stated that the use of pyrolysis oil this time is the first step of this strategy. Along with this, they plan to build a large-scale pyrolysis plant in Ulsan in cooperation with the U.S. pyrolysis specialist Brightmark and start commercial operation in 2024.

Na Kyung-soo, President of SK Geocentric, said, "Based on ESG (environment, social, governance) management, we aim to transform from carbon business to green business and will strengthen cooperation with related ministries, industries, and academia."

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