Carbon neutrality costs astronomical for petrochemical, steel industries

South Korea’s aggressive goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 would cost the nation’s petrochemical and steel industries enormous amounts of money, data showed Wednesday.

According to an internal document from the Korea Petrochemical Industry Association disclosed by Rep. Yang Kum-hee from the main opposition People Power Party, the domestic petrochemical industry will emit 110 million metric tons of carbon in 2050 and it would require 270 trillion won ($233.9 billion) to curb those emissions.

Specifically, ditching fossil fuels and switching to bio-based fuels and hydrogen would cost roughly 218 trillion won by 2050.

The steel industry is another sector that faces mounting uncertainties. According to data Yang obtained from the Korean Iron & Steel Association, the steel industry would need 109.4 trillion won to apply a technology that melts iron with hydrogen instead of coal.

To roll out hydrogen-based steelmaking infrastructure, it would cost 35.4 trillion won and existing facilities worth 36 trillion would be lost. Not a single steelmaker in the world has yet to commercialize the technology, and it’s questionable whether such massive investments would guarantee a successful development of the technology, industry officials say.

“Private companies bear the burden of carbon neutrality when there’s no available technology, so they’re unlikely to carry out big investments” Yang said.

By Kim Byung-wook (kbw@heraldcorp.com)