POSCO chairman leads South Korea-Australia economic cooperation POSCO Group Chairman Jang In-hwa, acting as the South Korean chair for the South Korea-Australia Economic Cooperation Committee, is pushing for expanded cooperation beyond traditional economic ties. This push was the central theme of the 46th joint meeting of the committee, held at FKI Tower in Seoul. The gathering, attended by approximately 200 officials from both nations, including Australia-Korea Business Council chair Martin Ferguson, sought to strengthen ties in industry, innovation, and sustainability. For the first time, AI-based industrial safety and disaster response were highlighted as special topics, reflecting a new direction for the bilateral relationship. In the minerals session, participants highlighted successful joint ventures like POSCO Pilbara Lithium Solution, which processes Australian lithium ore for secondary battery materials. The meeting also showcased the achievements of the "Australia Core Resources Research Center," POSCO's first overseas resource research institute, underscoring the company's commitment to securing vital mineral supply chains. In a move to enhance disaster preparedness, POSCO announced a new social contribution project in collaboration with the National Disaster Relief Association. The initiative will draw on Australia's advanced disaster response systems, particularly those in New South Wales, to help local Korean communities respond more effectively to natural disasters. This initiative is a practical example of the expanded cooperation Chairman Jang advocated for. Chairman Jang underscored the importance of this broader collaboration, stating, "I hope both countries will expand cooperation beyond economic and industrial investments to include regional coexistence, industrial safety, and disaster response, paving the way for a sustainable future." * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-17 10:14:34

SK Innovation targets global market with battery recycling tech SK Innovation is set to enter the global battery recycling market with its proprietary Battery Metal Recycling (BMR) technology. The company announced on Wednesday that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with U.S. engineering firm KBR at the Fastmarkets Conference in Portugal. Under the agreement, KBR will combine its crystallization technology with SK Innovation's BMR technology for global sales, generating royalty revenue for SK Innovation. KBR, with about 34,000 employees and operations in over 80 countries, provides advanced engineering solutions across various sectors, including energy and infrastructure. Since 2017, SK Innovation has developed its battery recycling technology by integrating its expertise from the refining and petrochemical sectors. In 2021, the company established a facility capable of recovering lithium hydroxide from batteries equivalent to 800 electric vehicles annually, securing over 100 patents globally. Phil Seok Kim, head of SK Innovation's Environmental Science and Technology Institute, stated, "Our innovative lithium recovery technology meets EU battery regulations and has proven battery performance." Gautam Krishnaiya, KBR's CTO, praised the economic advantages of SK Innovation's technology over traditional methods, highlighting the synergy with KBR's crystallization technology. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-17 09:52:00