Ministry of Environment and POSCO Introduce Korea's First Wireless Communication Method for 'Chimney Automatic Measurement Data'

Evaluated as an Excellent Case of Regulatory Innovation
Through Public-Private Cooperation

Expected to Expand to All Domestic Workplaces
Anticipated Reduction in Social Costs

Kim Hak-dong, Vice Chairman and CEO of POSCO (left), visited the Seoul Hangang Flood Control Office on the 25th and expressed his gratitude to Hong Jeong-gi, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Environment (right), for actively cooperating in the introduction of the TMS wireless communication network. Photo by POSCO

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] POSCO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, has introduced a wireless communication method to the chimney remote monitoring system for the first time in Korea.

The wireless communication method receives measurement data from the chimney remote monitoring system installed on factory chimneys wirelessly and transmits it to the Ministry of Environment. Compared to the existing wired communication method, which requires long-distance cable construction, it has advantages such as lower investment costs, reduced risk of safety accidents, and easier maintenance.

Under existing domestic laws, chimney remote monitoring system data was required to be communicated only via wired connections. However, due to the recent implementation of total air pollutant emission regulations, the number of business sites required to install chimney remote monitoring systems has significantly increased, leading to growing industry demand for the adoption of wireless communication methods.

In February last year, POSCO proposed to the Ministry of Environment through the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Corporate Environmental Policy Council to resolve these regulatory issues.

Reflecting the voices of the industry, the Ministry of Environment formed an external communication technology advisory committee to prepare security measures and thoroughly verify network performance and stability necessary for applying wireless communication methods. In cooperation with POSCO, the largest business site in Korea, a pilot project was conducted at the Pohang and Gwangyang steelworks from April to August last year, concluding that the introduction of wireless communication methods is appropriate.

POSCO was able to replace the installation of wired cables, which were over 2 meters in height and 43 km in length, with wireless solutions, enabling safe installation and operation. Based on the standards established through the pilot project, the Ministry of Environment completed the revision of the Air Pollution Process Test Standards on the 21st of last month, allowing all domestic business sites to utilize wireless communication methods.

Experts evaluate this pilot project as an excellent example of active public-private cooperation to improve regulations that fail to keep pace with technological advancements, and they expect that once fully implemented, unnecessary social costs can be reduced.

Kim Hakdong, Vice Chairman and CEO of POSCO, said, "We thank the Ministry of Environment for their efforts to help companies more easily carry out environmental improvement investments and management," adding, "We hope that similar public-private cooperation cases will continue in the future."

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