Gwangyang Steelworks Launches "Energy Patrol" to Boost Energy Savings

Identifying Areas for Improvement in Energy Management of Production Departments

Since April, POSCO Gwangyang Steelworks has launched the "Energy Patrol" initiative, which involves directly visiting production departments to strengthen on-site energy saving efforts.

As high oil prices and rising energy costs persist due to the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, the company has embarked on its own energy-saving activities to participate in nationwide efforts to address the energy crisis.

An employee at Gwangyang Steelworks is conducting a focused inspection on major pipelines and equipment to check for leaks and insulation conditions to improve energy efficiency. Provided by Gwangyang Steelworks

This initiative involves visiting production sites to inspect the operational status of energy facilities, identifying sources of energy waste, and sharing areas for improvement. Together with on-site personnel, the team checked for various waste factors, such as the installation of variable speed drives (devices that control the rotational speed of motors based on load to reduce unnecessary power consumption) on high-energy-consuming equipment like air compressors and pumps, as well as the replacement status of aging motors.

Additionally, support was provided to enable production departments to systematically monitor daily usage of gas, steam, and water. Standardized checklists were created for key management points, allowing continuous monitoring for waste factors.

The initiative also included a focused inspection of pipelines and related equipment supplying steam to blast furnaces, steelmaking plants, and cold rolling mills. Inspections covered pipelines, valves, and connection points, checking for potential leaks and insulation status that could lead to energy loss. Cases of wasted energy, such as malfunctioning steam traps, were identified and parts are being replaced sequentially.

Continuous improvement activities are underway for the issues identified during the inspection process. The company is focusing on reducing unnecessary energy use by adjusting the operation of certain equipment and improving operating conditions tailored to the characteristics of each plant. Based on the inspection results, further improvements will be implemented in stages where additional action is needed.

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