SOUTH KOREA: Major local companies are preparing to reduce greenhouse gases as the Kyoto Protocol is scheduled to go into effect next month.

Under the international pact that will take effect on Feb. 16, developed countries will be required to cut the emission of carbon dioxide to below 1990 levels during the 2008-2012 period. Developing countries, including South Korea, are likely to join the reduction scheme from after 2013.

POSCO, South Korea's largest steelmaker and largest carbon dioxide producer as well, has made changes with the impending reduction in mind.

''We have made efforts to improve our energy-efficiency and now our energy-efficiency is less than the EU and the United States,'' said Kim Tae-youp, manager of the environment and energy department at POSCO, which annually produces around 10 percent of the total carbon dioxide emission of Korea.

According to Kim, when the energy-efficiency of the Japanese steel industry is estimated at 100, that of POSCO is 105, below the 110 of the EU steel companies and 120 of the U.S. counterparts.

To cut back on energy consumption, the company has implemented various energy-efficient technologies, such as the strip casting method. Kim said.

''Strip casting solidifies thick steel to strips, and by using it, we reduce 85 percent to 90 percent of energy in some parts of the process,'' he said.

POSCO is conducting further research in steelmaking with lower carbon dioxide emissions.

''To reduce emissions in the course of steelmaking, we are conducting research to make ultra low carbon dioxide steel.'' EU steelmakers launched jointly the similar project called the ULCOS: Ultra Low Carbon Dioxide Steelmaking program in 2002.

''In addition, we sell our byproducts, like slag cement, to other companies which need them at low cost. Through these kind of efforts, we will hopefully contribute to reducing energy use and, accordingly, carbon dioxide emission in Korea,'' he said.

LG Chem is planning to launch the taskforce team this year to cope with greenhouse gas problems.

''With the taskforce, we will investigate how much greenhouse gases are emitted and how much we can reduce them in each of our business sections by next year,'' said Lee Sang-hyung, senior manager of environment and safety team at LG Chem.

''With this job, we will be able to deal with the issue at a collective level. After then we will also consider other methods such as carbon dioxide trading,'' Lee said.

Hyundai Motor Co. said it regards fuel-efficient diesel-powered vehicles one of the solutions. The company plans to increase production of diesel cars up to 50 percent of the total production by 2012.

It is also working on raising energy-efficiency in the production process through energy reduction technology, the company said.

Other countermeasures of the motor company include developing hybrid vehicles, the introduction of an emission trading system and the diversification of clean energy resources such as wind power and solar heat.

Samsung Electronics is also making efforts to reduce emissions by four percent every year and save energy by recycling used heat.

But environmentalists say efforts by local companies continue to be long on words and short on action.

''The companies tend to draw the big picture, but fail to materialize them in detail,'' said Lee Choong-sik, manager of Korea Green Foundation.

''When they say they will save energy, the companies should take concrete steps,'' he said.

Lee emphasized the necessity of the cooperation of all companies, not just individual actions.

''Besides each of the company's plans, the coordination of companies in the nation is desperately needed. And for that, the government should come up with broad measures to push for a joint project,'' he said.

Copyright 2005 Hankook Ilbo
Korea Times