SK Inno "Ulsan CLX, Leap to World's Best Eco-Friendly Green Plant"

Yoo Jaeyoung Ulsan CLX General Manager

Ulsan CLX, Core of 'Financial Story'
"Achieving 'Greening' of Products and Processes"

Thorough Management of Carbon Reduction Systems Including Medium-Temperature Asphalt and LNG Crude Oil Refining System

Yoo Jae-young, Head of SK Innovation Ulsan Complex (Ulsan CLX). (Photo by SK Inno)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] "We will transform Ulsan Complex (Ulsan CLX), the key to the success of the 'Financial Story' of all SK Innovation affiliates, into the most eco-friendly green plant that serves as a role model for energy companies worldwide."

Yoo Jaeyoung, head of Ulsan CLX, declared that he will turn the carbon-based production hub into a "green plant." He aims to achieve greening in both the products and the production processes. He emphasized that a "paradigm shift beyond mere improvement" is necessary to accomplish this.

On the 16th, in an interview with SK Innovation’s news channel SKinno News, Yoo said, "Although it may seem impossible to transform Ulsan CLX, a carbon-based production hub, into a green plant, with over 3,000 experts who know carbon best gathered here, we will definitely succeed."

First, to achieve the "greening of production products," the impact of carbon during crude oil refining must be minimized. Given the nature of crude oil and petrochemicals, which are composed of carbon, this is an inherently challenging task, but various efforts will be made to realize it.

Yoo cited the recently approved "medium-temperature asphalt" methodology for external greenhouse gas reduction projects by the Ministry of Environment as an example. SK Energy’s independently developed medium-temperature asphalt can be applied at lower temperatures, significantly reducing fuel input and electricity consumption, thereby cutting 6 to 7 kg of CO2 per ton. He also highlighted the strength of operating an in-house research institute and conducting joint projects to develop low-carbon products.

The "greening of production processes" refers to proper management of energy and water used in crude oil refining and petrochemical production. A representative case is the replacement last year of fuel for all eight power boilers used in crude oil refining from bunker C oil (0.3% B-C) to eco-friendly LNG. This is expected to reduce 160,000 tons of carbon and 858 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx) annually, an effect equivalent to planting 60,000 trees.

Another notable example is the recent introduction of an "AI-based comprehensive wastewater treatment plant," which has elevated the wastewater management level at Ulsan CLX. SK is the first domestic refining company to adopt an AI wastewater treatment system. While the previous manual system could only respond after wastewater was generated, the AI system enables real-time analysis and prediction to manage wastewater before it occurs. This also contributes to greenhouse gas reduction.

Yoo said, "As the head of operations at Ulsan CLX, the heart of SK Innovation, I feel a heavy responsibility to lead the financial story success of all SK Innovation affiliates," adding, "Together with the members of Ulsan CLX, partner companies, and all stakeholders, we will create a wonderful 'harmony' and make this the best year ever."

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