[기사 원문]
Ssangyong C&E is using industrial waste to fire cement kilns
Practice has come under question for still emitting pollution
One of the most polluting companies in South Korea is seeking to reduce emissions by using waste plastic to fire its cement kilns instead of coal, a practice that has come under question in other parts of the world.
Ssangyong C&E Co., the nation’s biggest cement maker, is burning 3,000 tons of synthetic resin waste from used plastics, textiles and tires per day to run its plant in Donghae on South Korea’s east coast. The firm says the move has reduced its coal use by about 30%, though gross carbon emissions have fallen only 3.3% from 2018 levels.
Korean cement makers are under increasing pressure to reduce their environmental impact as part of the nation’s goal to lower emissions 40% from 2018 levels by 2030.
Ssangyong emitted 9.9 million tons of CO2 equivalent in 2020, the fourth-largest amount among Korea’s industrial emitters, according to David Kang, an analyst at BloombergNEF. The industry emits about 10% of total carbons generated by Korean industry, one of the three dirtiest sectors, along with steel and petrochemicals, according to the Korean trade ministry.
As part of that target, cement makers will have to replace 36% of coal usage with waste to cut their emissions 12% by 2030. Ssangyong C&E has ambitions to become coal-free by 2030, by switching to what it calls circular resources -- or waste.
Critics of waste-to-energy practices, however, say that burning plastic still produces carbon dioxide emissions that accelerate global warming. Ssangyong C&E said its kilns, which reach up to 2,000 degrees Celsius (3,600 degrees Fahrenheit) can “significantly trim” emissions and there’s no impact on people’s health and the environment.
“Saying cement makers are using waste for fuel so they are going green could make consumers misunderstand the truth,” said Noh Woong-rae, an opposition lawmaker who is pushing for legislation in Korea to make the industry disclose the materials used for fuel.
South Korean cement makers use 88 kinds of waste for fuel, more than the 34 allowed in the US, 25 in Germany and 20 in Japan. The nation also lacks regulations to monitor heavy metals, Noh said. Cement makers “should consider the impact on people’s health, not just recycling resources,” he said.
Ssangyong C&E is controlled by Korean buyout firm Hahn & Co., which has invested around 478 billion won ($363 million) on facilities that use waste plastic for fuel, a waste heat-recovery system, an energy storage system, and buying 10 waste suppliers to secure supplies of garbage to burn.
By Heejin Kim
Bloomberg
[주요내용 국문 요약]
- 국내 최대 시멘트 제조업체인 쌍용 C&E, 동해에 있는 공장을 가동하기 위해서 하루 3,000톤의 플라스틱, 섬유, 타이어로 부터 발생하는 합성수지 폐기물을 태우고 있음 → 비록 총 탄소 배출량이 2018년 수준보다 3.3% 정도만 감소했음에도 불구하고, 쌍용 C&E는 이러한 행위로 석탄 사용이 약 30% 감소했다고 발표
- 블룸버그NEF 분석가 David Kang, 쌍용이 2020년에 990만 톤의 CO2를 배출했다고 분석했으며, 이는 한국에서 4번째로 많은 양임 → 쌍용 C&E는 2030년까지 순환 자원(circular resources)으로 전환함으로써 석탄을 사용하지 않겠다는 목표
- 쓰레기를 에너지화하는 행위(waste-to-energy practices)를 반대하는 입장은 플라스틱을 태우는 것이 여전히 지구온난화를 가속화하는 이산화탄소를 배출한다고 비판하나, 쌍용 C&E는 섭씨 2,000도에 달하는 가마(kiln)가 플라스틱을 태울 때 나오는 배출량을 크게 줄일 수 있고, 사람들의 건강과 환경에 영향이 없다고 주장
- 한편, 한국의 시멘트 제조업체들은 88종의 폐기물을 연료로 사용하고 있으며, 이는 미국에서 허용된 34종, 독일 25종, 그리고 일본 20종을 훨씬 초과하는 양임
- 국가 목표의 일환으로 한국 내 시멘트 제조업체들은 2030년까지 배출량을 2018년 대비 40%까지 줄여야 하는 압력을 받고 있음
시멘트 제조공정에서 열을 내는 부연료로 사용되기 위해 잘게 분쇄된 플라스틱 [사진=쌍용C&E]