Choi Jung-woo: "Steel Industry Must Unite to Achieve Carbon Neutrality"

Choi Jung-woo, Chairman of the World Steel Association (Chairman of POSCO Holdings), emphasized that the steel industry must unite to achieve carbon neutrality.

Chairman Choi presided over the regular meeting of the World Steel Association held in Shanghai, China, on the 15th (local time). At the World Steel Association Executive Committee meeting attended by representatives of major global steel companies, Chairman Choi discussed key issues such as the development of future autonomous vehicle body solutions, international standard trends for greenhouse gas emission measurement methods, and global steel demand forecasts with the participants.

Choi Jung-woo, Chairman of the World Steel Association, is delivering the keynote speech at the World Steel Association General Assembly held in Shanghai, China, on the 16th. (Photo by POSCO Holdings)

Chairman Choi stressed the need to more actively promote the superior eco-friendliness of steel products compared to aluminum materials, and discussed plans to expand green steel supply and develop joint research and development (R&D) programs for decarbonization technologies.

In his keynote speech at the general meeting, Chairman Choi said, "To achieve the grand goal of carbon neutrality, we must advance together with two wings: technology and policy," and urged, "Through joint R&D programs for decarbonization technologies, let us identify common challenges among member companies and accelerate the overall pace of technology development." He also mentioned that everyone should work together to ensure that the World Steel Association's greenhouse gas emission measurement standards become international standards.

Chairman Choi added that detailed discussions on the operation plans for the joint R&D program will take place at the Innovation Technology Conference to be held for three days from December 5 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This conference is expected to be a venue to share low-carbon innovative technologies, including hydrogen reduction steelmaking technology and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), and to discuss sustainable growth.

Additionally, POSCO was selected in the sustainability category of the '2023 Steelie Awards' organized by the World Steel Association for its greenhouse gas reduction technology in agriculture using silicate fertilizer. Silicate fertilizer is made using silicon (SiO2), the main component of steel slag, and has the effect of reducing methane gas emissions by suppressing the activity of methane-producing bacteria in rice paddies.

Meanwhile, prior to the World Steel Association regular meeting, on the morning of the 15th, Chairman Choi attended the joint conference of the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) and China Baowu Group held at the Shanghai Baowu Expo Center as the Chairman of the World Steel Association and delivered a keynote speech on "The Future of Steel in the Carbon Neutral Era."

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