Vice Minister Lim Sang-jun of the Ministry of Environment examines the industrial site and policy issues in the secondary battery sector, which is gaining attention as a future national strategic industry.  

The Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) announced that Vice Minister Lim Sang-jun will visit the ‘Pohang Blue Valley National Industrial Complex (located in Nam-gu, Pohang)’ on January 29. A meeting is scheduled to be held after the Vice Minister inspects the only domestic artificial graphite cathode material production facilities and processes of POSCO Future M, a subsidiary of POSCO. Additionally, he will visit the site of the Ministry’s electric vehicle battery resource recycling cluster (scheduled for completion in June 2025) and the secondary battery comprehensive management center located nearby. 

In particular, during the on-site meeting with the secondary battery companies, there are plans to discuss in detail how to supply water gradually to meet the expected increase in water demand, following the designation of the Pohang Blue Valley National Industrial Complex as a specialized zone for the secondary battery national advanced strategic industry in July 2023. 

Vice Minister plans to then inspect the progress and plans of projects led by the Ministry, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Pohang City, Gyeongbuk Technopark, and other relevant agencies for the establishment of a secondary battery recycling ecosystem. This will be done through visits to the electric vehicle battery resource recycling cluster site and the secondary battery comprehensive management center. 

Vice Minister Lim Sang-jun emphasized, "Secondary batteries are not only a national advanced strategic industry but also a core area of the circular economy." He added, "We will actively support the secondary battery industry through green finance and water supply, and, in particular, contribute to securing the supply chain of key mineral resources through the recycling of used batteries."

In addition, Vice Minister expressed his expectation that the green convergence cluster for used batteries, scheduled to be completed in Pohang by 2025, will play a central role in these efforts.

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division. 

Contact person: Gina Lee, foreign media spokesperson

Phone: +82-44-201-6055

Email: gcjgina @gmail.com