Published : Sept. 29, 2016 - 16:21
Korea’s second-largest oil refiner GS Caltex held a groundbreaking ceremony of its demo plant, located in Yeosu of South Jeolla Province, taking a step closer to producing bio-butanol made with nonedible biomass, the first of its kind in the world, the firm said Thursday.
The oil refiner expects its latest exclusive technology to greatly cut production costs and reduce greenhouse gases by using waste wood and crop residue.
GS Caltex holds a groundbreaking ceremony of its demo plant in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, Thursday. (GS Caltex)
“We will try to set the grounds to commercialize (bio-butanol) in the domestic and global market on manufacturing competitiveness gained through leading-edge technology,” GS Caltex said in a statement.
Bio-butanol can be converted into efficient fuel when mixed with gasoline, because of its high energy density, the company explained.
It can also replace petroleum-based butanol, used in making coatings, glue and so on.
GS Caltex has agreed to invest a total of 50 billion won ($45.5 million) to build the demo plant that covers 15,000 square meters of land, the firm said.
The demo plant is expected to produce 400 tons of bio-butanol yearly, once construction is complete in the second half of 2017, it added.
By Kim Bo-gyung(
lisakim425@heraldcorp.com)