Delegates toured the high-nickel cathode materials plant and discussed opportunities for technological and business
collaboration

On January 16, the Canadian Battery Circular Economy Business Delegation visited POSCO Future M’s Pohang Cathode Materials Plant.

The delegation, comprising representatives from the Canadian government and companies specializing in battery reuse and recycling technologies, is engaged in global projects to validate related technologies and establish business partnerships.

The visiting group included prominent figures such as H.E. Tamara Mawhinney, Canadian Ambassador to South Korea; John Zimmerman, Senior Trade Commissioner at the Canadian Embassy in Korea; and Deric Dubien, Manager at Global Affairs Canada’s Export Support Division, along with more than 30 officials and industry representatives.

During their visit, the delegation toured the Pohang plant, which mass-produces high-nickel NCMA and NCA cathode materials for the global market, and engaged in discussions about potential technological and business collaborations.

H.E. Tamara Mawhinney remarked, “POSCO Future M was the first Korean company to establish a cathode materials business in Canada, including the construction of the Ultium CAM plant, showcasing its exceptional business capabilities and technological expertise. I look forward to continued exchanges and collaborations to advance the battery industries of both nations.”

Noh Ho-seop, Head of POSCO Future M’s Pohang Cathode Materials Division, commented, “We appreciate the Canadian government’s and industry’s efforts in fostering the growth of eco-friendly energy and electric vehicle industries. We hope to expand mutual cooperation further to enhance competitiveness.”

Notably, Canada has maintained an ongoing partnership with POSCO Future M. In October last year, a 10-member delegation from Quebec’s Energy Transition Valley visited the Pohang Cathode Materials Plant to study employee training programs and discuss ways to support POSCO Future M’s projects in Canada and strengthen collaboration.

▲The Canadian Battery Circular Economy Business Delegation visited POSCO Future M’s Pohang Cathode Materials Plant on January 16. (Front row, seventh from left) Cho Yong-moon, Head of POSCO Future M’s Anode Materials Division; John Zimmerman, Senior Trade Commissioner at the Canadian Embassy; H.E. Tamara Mawhinney, Canadian Ambassador to South Korea; Noh Ho-seop, Head of POSCO Future M’s Pohang Cathode Materials Division; and Deric Dubien, Manager at Global Affairs Canada’s Export Support Division.

Are you curious about the lives of POSCO’s overseas expatriates who enjoy working and leisure in an exotic environment? POSCO Newsroom reports on the local lives of overseas expatriates. In Place 3, we’ll introduce Kyung-Eun Yoo from HR and General Affairs, and Ye-Sol Kim, an engineer in the Production Safety Department, both working at Ultium CAM, a joint venture between POSCO Future M and General Motors (GM) that focuses on the production of cathode materials for GM’s electric vehicles.

[Kyung-Eun Yoo] :  Hello, I am Kyung-Eun Yoo, an expatriate who has lived in Bécancour, Quebec, since July 29, 2023, and I work in the HR and General Affairs department at Ultium CAM. Ultium CAM is a joint venture between POSCO Future M and General Motors to produce cathode materials for GM’s electric vehicles. Ultium CAM is currently building a cathode material plant with an annual capacity of 30,000 tons, with the goal of completion by 2025.

Bécancour, where Ultium CAM is located, has strategically developed into a battery-specialized industrial hub known as the Société du parc industriel et portuaire de Bécancour (SPIPB). Ultium CAM is the first factory being established in this industrial park, and has received significant support and attention from the city.

In my role, I collaborate with local employees on HR planning, system operations, public relations, and government relations so that our expatriates adapt well and are focused on their work.

[Ye-Sol Kim] :  Hello, I am Ye-Sol Kim, an engineer who started my expatriate journey at Ultium CAM on the same day as Gyeong-Eun Yu. I am part of the Production Safety Department, responsible for sourcing the maintenance, repair, and operation (MRO) materials needed for the operation of the plant. MRO encompasses everything from bolts and nuts to critical equipment components such as filters and meshes, all of which require periodic maintenance and replacement for smooth operations. I also oversee the review of local safety and environmental regulations and have recently been involved in training new local employees on process protocols.

[Kyung-Eun Yoo] : With a major in French studies, I was keen to find a company where I could use my language skills. That’s when I discovered POSCO Future M’s global talent recruitment program, which seeks to merge knowledge in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering to create new value. This program prioritizes overseas assignments for those with proven competence. I joined POSCO Future M with the hope of someday working at Ultium CAM, where French is the working language. When the opportunity arose, it felt almost destined, and I eagerly embraced the chance to contribute to the company’s growth with my French proficiency.

Although I had studied French extensively and believed I understood Francophone culture well, the strong affinity for the language in Quebec was initially a surprise. I realized that with Quebec’s prioritization of the French language as its foremost value and the legal requirement for global companies such as Ultium CAM to use French, the initial establishment of Ultium CAM might not be an easy process.

However, after speaking with locals and studying their history, I gained a deep appreciation for their efforts to preserve their linguistic and cultural heritage in a predominantly English-speaking country. I realized that truly understanding and respecting Quebec’s love for the French language could pave the way for Ultium CAM to become a beloved company in the region.

In North America, recruitment is often conducted on a rolling basis, so companies tend to use professional sites like LinkedIn for hiring rather than open recruitment or campus recruiting as is common in South Korea. Ultium CAM had relatively low recognition in the region, which posed a significant challenge as we deliberated on how best to raise the company’s profile. To raise Ultium CAM’s local profile, we organized various events in the Bécancour area to officially introduce the company to the community. At one such event, I had the honor of representing Ultium CAM and presenting our business operations entirely in French, given the limited English proficiency of the local audience.

We operated booths at recruitment fairs in Montreal and Trois-Rivières, and also hosted Ultium CAM hiring events throughout the Bécancour area. I mainly introduced our processes and products to local job seekers in French. During these events, I received numerous detailed questions about the characteristics of our products and the work environment, and the broad knowledge and experience I gained from the integration training after joining the company was very helpful.

Ultium CAM’s workforce is diverse, and not only has employees from Quebec, but also from Latin America, Asia, and other regions. As a result, effective communication requires genuine respect for different cultures, rather than just language skills. When I learn something new about Quebec culture, I usually share it by saying, “In Korea, we do it this way, but in Quebec, it is done like this, and this is one of the differences between our two cultures.” Alternatively, I might ask, “In Korea, we do it this way, how is it done in Quebec?” This approach helps spark conversations about the cultural differences between the two countries. I make it a point not only to engage in casual conversations but also to discuss work-related challenges with my colleagues with the aim of building strong rapport (mutual trust).

Additionally, I have gained insights into cultural differences that might be less familiar in Korea, such as a preference for cohabitation over marriage, a strong emphasis on privacy that makes people reluctant to share personal details such as age, marital status, or children, and various dietary practices driven by religious or personal beliefs. These cultural nuances have been thoughtfully integrated into our recruitment processes and HR policies to help us adapt our company’s systems to the local context.

In addition to Ye-Sol Kim and myself, four other colleagues from the interdisciplinary talent program (including Min-Young Bong in Maintenance and Hye-Yeon Lee in Technical Quality) are also part of the Ultium CAM team. Each of us serves as a bridge inside and outside the production, maintenance, and quality departments, while also supporting construction efforts. Using our overseas education and work experience, we provide interpretation in meetings and actively participate in on-site discussions with contractors and suppliers.

One of the most rewarding aspects of working at Ultium CAM is the opportunity to use our diverse experiences and knowledge in departments to overcome language and cultural barriers and unite as a cohesive team.

[Ye-Sol Kim] : I majored in French Language and Literature and Economics in college. Like Gyeong-Eun Yu, I joined POSCO Future M through the global talent recruitment program. Although I thought I could adapt well to life as an expatriate because I had many foreign friends, I was initially worried about forming professional relationships with foreign colleagues. However, my fluency in English and French helped me quickly bond with local employees through small talk. Indeed, nothing bridges social distances like sincere conversations.

Ultium CAM is currently building a plant with an annual capacity of 30,000 tons of cathode materials. It is receiving a lot of attention locally because it is a key player in the future electric vehicle battery industry and a Carbon Reduction, wastewater-free facility. My responsibilities include developing strategies for waste management with a focus on converting waste into resources rather than resorting to landfill or incineration. We are also negotiating with battery recycling companies to sell process waste containing valuable materials such as nickel and lithium.

I am also in charge of localizing the equipment and materials used in the plant. Ultium CAM is the first cathode material plant in North America, so it has been challenging to find suppliers that meet our specifications since there are few companies that specialize in electric vehicle battery materials in the region. To address this, I have been actively participating in local supplier exhibitions with the procurement team to find companies that can supply materials that meet our requirements. I was so engrossed in reviewing equipment drawings and manuals that the days flew by without even noticing.

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Korea with local managers and engineers from Ultium CAM for a cathode material technology training program. We spent four weeks at the Talent Development Center in Songdo and Pohang, as well as at the cathode material plants. The employees who accompanied me and I had a very productive time touring the sites, asking questions, and exploring ways to establish a robust battery value chain in Quebec similar to those in Pohang and Gwangyang.

This technical training program was tailored to specific roles in operations, maintenance, and quality, so we were able to acquire the practical skills necessary for plant operations. It also provided a deeper understanding of POSCO Group’s corporate culture, which greatly enhanced our sense of belonging as POSCO members. As a Korean, I was genuinely surprised by how thoroughly the technical skills were taught during the training. The foreign employees said that they appreciated the opportunity to directly experience and understand the work environment and culture of a Korean company through the training. Now everyone is back in the country and working hard to apply the knowledge and skills they acquired from the training to the plant.

[Kyung-Eun Yoo] : Bécancour, where I work, is a small town. On my days off, I love exploring local eateries with colleagues and eating various local dishes. Its picturesque scenery and the laid-back, friendly nature of its residents make working here very enjoyable.

One spot I highly recommend is Coconut Bar, a long-standing pub in Trois-Rivières where many expatriates reside. This pub has been around for decades and holds the nostalgic memories of the mothers and grandmothers of local employees. When you enter, the staff greet you with Hawaiian-style flower leis, and the tropical décor, complete with statues and fountains, transports you from snowy Canada to a summer paradise. It is no wonder that local employees often say, “If you’re in Trois-Rivières, you must visit Coconut Bar.”

What makes Coconut Bar even more special is that we hold a welcome gathering there every time a new employee joins the HR and General Affairs team at Ultium CAM. The first day at a new job can be nerve-wracking, but sitting at the bar and chatting with colleagues helps break the ice and ease the tension. I vividly remember when my colleagues recorded a birthday video for my mother in French at Coconut Bar. It was the first time she received such a global birthday greeting, and she was absolutely thrilled, saying it would be a cherished memory for years to come.

While I thoroughly enjoy discovering new local delicacies, there are times when I miss Korean food. In that case, I either visit a Korean restaurant in Montreal or prepare Korean dishes with ingredients from a local Korean grocery store to share with my fellow expatriates. As we reminisce about our experiences in Korea and discuss all the things we want to do when we return, time seems to fly by.

[Ye-Sol Kim] : Living as an expatriate often brings a variety of new and diverse experiences. It can sometimes be hard to navigate new procedures and processes at work, but the everyday moments and memories I have made along the way make each day enjoyable. We currently work out of temporary offices because the Ultium CAM office building and cafeteria are still under construction. We all bring our packed lunches and eat together, and one day, a local colleague who noticed that I was eating cup noodles every day surprised me with a generous serving of a local delicacy, salmon marinated in maple syrup. Although the idea of sweet syrup on fish seemed odd at first, it tasted far better than I expected. In return, I prepared a Korean dish to share with my colleagues, which they thoroughly enjoyed.

It frequently snows in Bécancour because winter lasts for about half the year. I wasn’t particularly fond of winter in Korea, but since I moved here, I have come to appreciate the season by snowmobiling, cross-country skiing in the parks, and ice skating on the frozen lakes with my colleagues. During the summer, I often play pickleball, a sport introduced to me by local staff. It is a blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, and I find that hitting the ball with the paddle is a great way to relieve stress.

[Kyung-Eun Yoo] : POSCO Future M’s Ultium CAM is currently in the early stages of plant construction, so it is not well recognized locally. As a member of the HR and General Affairs team, my goal is to make sure that everyone in the Bécancour area knows about Ultium CAM. We will hire more employees after the plant is completed, and my biggest goal is to build a unique organizational culture at Ultium CAM that blends Korean and Quebecois cultures with the participation of all employees.

Finally, for those considering a career at POSCO Future M Ultium CAM, I encourage you to face the challenge with confidence. While there may be difficulties, the new and exciting experiences will far outweigh them. So, to all of you, Aie du courage (have courage)!

[Ye-Sol Kim] : Engineering work tends to have a clear direction regarding problems and solutions. It requires extensive on-site experience, including a deep understanding of equipment and processes, as well as the ability to handle and resolve a wide range of issues, so I continually study whenever I get the chance. I will continue to do my best in Canada until the Ultium CAM plant, which I have watched from the construction phase, is successfully completed and begins producing 30,000 tons of cathode material annually.

Training covers production, maintenance, and quality control, ensuring readiness for commissioning and mass production.

Plant Manager Eric Bouchard: “We will produce world-class quality materials with advanced Korean technology.”

In preparation for the operation of its Canadian cathode material plant, POSCO Future M has initiated a training program in Korea for local key personnel, advancing its efforts in global technical workforce development.

From June 10, POSCO Future M conducted a month-long training program for 21 key employees of ‘Ultium CAM,’ a joint venture established with General Motors (GM) in May 2022 in Quebec, Canada. The training occurred at the POSCO Group University and the cathode material plant. These employees, who will play pivotal roles in the stable operation and high-quality production at the 30,000-ton capacity cathode material plant, are on-site supervisors with around ten years of manufacturing experience.

Over three weeks, these employees attended the Pohang cathode material plant, focusing intensively on production, maintenance, and quality control techniques. They acquired the necessary qualifications to become specialized personnel required for the plant’s commissioning and mass production. Additionally, a one-week introductory and general education course at the POSCO Group University helped them understand POSCO Group’s vision and organizational culture, the significance of safety, and their identity as part of the POSCO Group.

Supplementary programs, including tours of historical sites in Gyeongju, community activities near the plant, and cultural events like ‘Chimaek Day’ (an event involving chicken and beer), enhanced their understanding of Korean culture and fostered a closer emotional connection.

Eric Bouchard, the local plant manager, remarked upon completing the training, “Receiving high-level technical education in Korea, a leader in the battery industry, and experiencing Korean culture has deepened my understanding of my colleagues. I will utilize the knowledge gained from this training to produce the highest quality materials.”

Following commissioning, Ultium CAM will commence full-scale mass production next year. The cathode materials produced here will qualify for tax credits under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Ultium Cells, a joint venture between GM and LG Energy Solution, will use them in batteries.

▲Ultium CAM employees receive training in quality analysis on the 2nd. Cathode material samples are transported via an air-shooting system for rapid quality inspection.

▲An Ultium CAM employee tests product quality through specific surface area analysis on June 24th.

▲Ultium CAM employees discuss the calcination process for combining precursor and lithium on the 3rd.

▲Ultium CAM employees take a commemorative photo at the POSCO Group University on June 12th.

▲On the 4th, Ultium CAM employees and Song Dong-gi, Head of Pohang Cathode Material Division (sixth from left in the front row), take a commemorative photo after completing their training at the POSCO Future M Pohang cathode material plant.

Consider some of the bigger shifts in the US energy industry:

The Shale Revolution

The “shale revolution” has impacted the entire energy system in the US and worldwide. Although the elements of horizontal drilling and fracking had been known for decades, it was the entrepreneurial genius of men like George Mitchell of Houston who found the way to link these technologies and apply them commercially. It resulted in the US going from a natural gas importer to an exporter of pipeline gas and LNG, an exporter of oil (but not a net exporter), and the collapse of prices for gas, LNG, oil and oil products. It reverberated throughout OPEC countries and other major producers like Russia, as well as in major importing countries. It also enabled oil and gas producers to reduce their footprint overseas and focus on domestic production opportunities.

The “shale revolution” has impacted the entire energy system in the US and worldwide. (Source: Bloomberg Business)

Coal Industry

Coal, which had been king in the middle of the last century, has been declining rapidly, losing market share to often cheaper natural gas. The improbable opportunity to ship coal to Germany provided some relief. The Trump Administration may have won the election by making promises to US coal-producing states, but having an impact on this declining industry will take more than rhetoric. While much attention has been given to anti-coal regulation it has been market forces that caused electricity producers to shift from coal to natural gas.

Nuclear Energy

Nuclear energy faces the twin threats of obsolescence, as well as competitiveness with natural gas. The regulatory system also contributes to its decline. Many of the roughly 100 nuclear facilities operating in the US were built about 40 years ago, which means that they were due for major upgrades or retirement now. Only a few new plants are under construction, and they are massively over budget and have been built only in states with regulatory systems in which consumers must bear the cost of such overruns. Conventional wisdom had been that these plants would be upgraded and run for decades more. Instead several have announced shutdowns, and more are expected to follow. Nuclear had been considered a low-cost base fuel, but has trouble with competing with natural gas at current prices.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of Energy Rick Perry (Source: Fortune)

Energy policy in the Trump Administration, led by Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, is trying to protect both coal and nuclear because of their important role as baseload producers, in contrast to wind and solar that cannot provide consistent power to the system. But it seems doubtful that regulatory mechanisms will overcome market forces.

Falling Prices

The collapse of oil and natural gas prices led to the elimination of hundreds of thousands of jobs worldwide and slashing capital budgets, especially for higher-cost production such as deepwater, the Arctic, and other frontier environments. The shale play was led by small independent companies, but many of them took on too much debt, spent too much money to buy leases from mineral-rights owners, and drilled but often didn’t complete wells because of a focus on future growth. A number of them have failed financially or sold off properties. Even giants like BHP Billiton, which entered the US shale market with a USD 20 billion investment, wrote off USD 13 billion within six years. Although there continues to be substantial financing available from Wall Street, the focus has shifted from growth to cash flow. This has important implications.

But cheaper natural gas has had a positive impact in four areas:

Natural Gas and Oil Pipeline Projects

Natural gas and oil pipelines (midstream) have had a resurgence of activity, both proposed and built. To be sure there have been and continue to be strong challenges by environmental organizations. However, many pipelines have gone forward and others have been suspended because of economics rather than protest.

The U.S. went from an importer to an exporter of liquified natural gas. (Source: The Globe and Mail)

New LNG Facilities

LNG exports are a new phenomenon for the US. For years the US faced a deficit in natural gas, leading to proposals for nearly 40 LNG import facilities. Fortunately, most of them were not built, and those that were have largely become LNG export terminals. These required massive capital investment across the value chain. Greenfield facilities are now planned or under construction in multiple locations.

Expansion of Pipelines to Mexico

Pipeline gas to Mexico is little noticed by the public but the expansion has been dramatic. Despite the liberalization of the energy system in Mexico the demand for natural gas for industry and consumers, especially in Northern Mexico, is likely to continue. There is even talk about an LNG export terminal in Mexico’s Baja peninsula, to be supplied from US sources. The shadow over this is anti-immigrant policies of the Trump Administration and uncertainties related to the renegotiation of the NAFTA trade agreement. There is concern that the upcoming Presidential election in Mexico will result in an anti-US tide that might impact progress on the energy value chain.

Resurgence of the Petrochemical Industry

The petrochemical industry in the US has had a resurgence with low-cost natural gas. Approximately USD 100 billion of investment is currently underway or recently completed in the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast.

What we see here are currents moving in very different directions in the extended and complex energy supply chain in the US and internationally.

What does this mean for the steel industry?

Pipelines

Steel is literally the backbone of the US oil and gas system. Hundreds of thousands of miles of pipelines form a complex web across the continental US, in Alaska, to Canada and Mexico, and out to the Gulf of Mexico. Though mostly unseen, these pipelines enable the production and consumption of resources reliably and at affordable prices. New activity will be limited in the Gulf of Mexico for some time, with most of it focused on completing projects that were already underway. There may be some new activity in Mexican waters in the Gulf as the political opening there results in development, much of it in proximity to known fields on the US side of the border.

For example the Keystone XL pipeline, planned to bring more heavy oil from Canada, has been contentious for years for a variety of reasons including the higher carbon content of the crude and the route of the pipeline. Opponents have recently adopted a new strategy suggesting that the project is no longer economic – this is a way to undermine political support. TransCanada, the developer, insists that it is viable and on track. However, in Canada itself, plans have been abandoned for a massive oil pipeline to connect the producing area of Alberta in Western Canada to the east coast.

The Keystone XL pipeline was planned to bring heavy oil from Canada to the U.S. (Source: Horizon Supply Company)

Platforms

The offshore industry has been a major user of steel, both for platforms often built in Korea, and also for the related supply chain. Capital investment has been hardest hit in this area, and may not resume for 3-5 years until global demand increases and production growth slows.

LNG Facilities

LNG is a relative bright spot. The value chain includes the production of gas, transportation to newly-built liquefaction facilities, LNG ships, and import/regasification facilities. Lithuania recently built an LNG import facility to promote its independence from Russia. In other cases, majors like Shell, are now discussing building infrastructure in countries as diverse as South Africa and Vietnam so that they can become gas users. Japan shut its nuclear facilities after Fukushima and has been slow to reopen them. It lacks a domestic pipeline system because of the mountainous terrain and has relied on two dozen LNG import terminals. Will that create demand for new facilities?

An interesting twist is that Kinder Morgan, a leading pipeline company, has defined itself more broadly as an energy transfer organization. It had been frustrated in trying to build a natural gas pipeline from the Marcellus field in Pennsylvania to Boston, where natural gas prices are often the highest in the US. So they have decided to build LNG vessels to transport gas from terminals in Louisiana and Texas to Boston, despite restrictions imposed by the protective Jones Act that requires US vessels and crews for transport between US destinations.

LNG vessels transport LNG between terminals. (Source: World Maritime News)

Shale Gas Wells

The US shale play has been compared to a manufacturing process. Traditional development wells were expected to produce gas for years and oil sometimes for decades. But the fracking operations have a rapid decline curve which means that companies are constantly drilling new horizontal wells and are doing so for greater lengths. More than a dozen horizontal wells may stretch from a single pad. Budgets are now focused on cash flow, which means spending less on acquiring leases and more to produce oil – this results in more spending on steel.

Crude Oil Vessels

The US is now exporting about 2 million barrels of oil per day. US producers had been largely banned from exporting oil until two years ago when outdated legislation was changed. Increased domestic production and the ability to export dramatically changed shipping patterns. Nigeria had been a major exporter to the US but has forfeited the market. Saudi Aramco bought out Shell’s interest in the Motiva joint venture and took complete control of the Port Arthur refinery, the largest in the US. Many observers believe this was to assure a market for Saudi crude. Thus increased trade in oil and shifting markets may create demand for new vessels.

Petrochemical Facilities

Finally, low-cost natural gas has been a constant in the US. In addition to the new construction of petrochemical facilities along the US Gulf Coast mentioned previously, it adds the potential for a reindustrialization of the US economy that was unimaginable just a few years ago. This can cut across many industries for which power costs are a major factor. This may seem inconsistent with e-commerce, but the two may go together as mega distribution centers are built so that a growing fleet of trucks can provide same-day delivery to consumers.

There are many paradoxes in the American energy system and supply chain. For the steel industry, the key is to determine where those opportunities are located.

Bill Arnold is a professor in the practice of energy management at Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business. Previously, Arnold was Royal Dutch Shell’s Washington director of international government relations and senior counsel for the Middle East, Latin America and North Africa for 16 years.

Cover photo courtesy of Petroleum Economist.

This year, thousands of Haitian refugees with protective status in the U.S. following the 2010 earthquake, crossed the border into Quebec, Canada. The Trump administration announced in May that the temporary status for those refugees will end in January 2018. Facing deportation, the number of asylum seekers migrating to Canada is on a rapid rise. For now, the Canadian government has turned the Montreal Olympic Stadium into a temporary shelter while legal matters get sorted.

A group of asylum seekers outside of the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada (Source: Montreal Gazette)

In Northern France, over 1000 refugees from Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Eritrea are seeking shelter. In October 2016, the government shut down the temporary Calais Camp and is discouraging the re-establishment of new refugee settlements in the area. Many of the displaced persons are school-aged children, now living in makeshift tents and open wastelands often facing police harassment.

Due to war, natural disasters and even national policy, millions of people globally have no place to call home. Though the underlying reasons will most likely take years to restore, the most urgent matter is providing refugees with adequate water, food and shelter. This urgency often leads to temporary solutions to a long term problem.

The Cities of Tomorrow

Kilian Kleinschmidt worked for the UN and UNHCR for 25 years before he set up his own aid consultancy called Switxboard. In an interview with Dezeen, Kleinschmidt said, “[Refugee camps] are the cities of tomorrow. The average stay today in a camp is 17 years. That’s a generation. Let’s look at these places as cities.”

He added there are thousands of job vacancies in Europe alone, but they are in places with no housing nearby. He believes everyone can benefit from viewing the refugee crisis as an opportunity to stimulate the economy as well as societies. Governments and aid agencies need to first provide more permanent housing solutions and connect refugees to resources to rebuild their lives, instead of focusing solely on survival.

In fact, most refugee camps provide tents that only last up to 6 months. Not only are they insufficient shelters against the weather and other external threats, they generate waste. Many organizations and housing professionals worldwide acknowledge this problem and are putting forth viable solutions.

Longer Lasting Solutions

IKEA is one such company. Starting in 2012, the IKEA Foundation came up with IKEA’s Better Shelter, a flatpack that comes with all the parts and tools necessary to build a refugee shelter. Each shelter consists of steel frames, insulated polypropylene panels and even solar panels for electricity. Everything comes packed in a box, just like other IKEA furniture, and can be assembled in about 4 hours. Last year, London’s Design Museum awarded Better Shelter with the Beazley design of the year. Although one house costs USD 8000 dollars, it lasts up to six times longer than tents, and the steel materials can be recycled to build other facilities.

UNHCR workers and volunteers set up an IKEA Better Shelter (Source: UNHCR)

Calais is another example of shelters providing a longer-term shelter solution. Early this year, the government of Calais, France opened a migrant shelter made of steel shipping containers. The 125 containers with bunk beds, heaters and windows can house up to 1500 people. Because there is no running water system, the shelter is by no means a permanent residency, but the steel shipping containers will last longer and are safer than cotton tents.

Aid workers move materials in and out of the shipping container shelters (Source: International Business Times)

Due to ongoing conflicts around the world as well as regular occurrences of natural disasters, governments and organizations need to reevaluate the global refugee crisis. Responding to emergencies with whatever resources are at hand is vital, but in order for refugees to settle down and contribute to society, they need to be empowered with more permanent residences.

Homes with steel frames or steel shipping containers can be a start to building long term shelters. Such homes can last years, provide safety and privacy and are relatively affordable. Moreover, steel can easily be reused for other building projects once the shelter is no longer needed. International and national laws regarding refugees date back to the end of World War II. A lot has changed since then, and it’s time for governments, companies and individuals to come up with sustainable solutions to shelter refugees.

*Cover Photo Courtesy of Inhabitat.

In 2030, Mr. K picked up a container of fine black powder before going to work. Last night, on his way home, his automobile ran out of fuel, and the materials in this container will be used to refuel his car.

The substance he is carrying in his hand is steel powder, in nanometer (1/1,000,000,000 meter)-sized particles. Fuel made from metal may have only been thought to exist in stories, but in fact, research on ‘metal fuel’ is already in the process of becoming a reality.

Since thousands of years ago, mankind been able to use metal’s properties through burning. One example is the fireworks we use during celebrations, which are created by setting metal powder on fire mid-air. The concept of metal fuel is to use heat, light and explosive power, but for automobiles or power plants rather than just fireworks.

Metal actually has far more potential to act as a fuel than gases or liquids, as it produces much more heat from chemical reactions. For example, energy stored in 1L of LNG produces 22.2MJ (megajoules), but iron of the same volume produces 40.68MJ, and aluminum, 83.8MJ.

One of the well-known examples we use metal as fuel is for fireworks, which we ignite by setting fire on metal powder while it is in the air. Scientists want to use the heat and combustion energy generated during these types of reactions for running an automobile or a power plant.

There are two main ways to use metal as fuel for automobiles or power plants. The first is to set fire to metal when it is in the form of fine particles, and then have it react it with oxygen (4Al+3O₂→2Al₂O₃). The enormous amount of heat generated can be used to operate an engine.

Another way is to combine metal powder with water. Recall the experiment during your elementary school science class when you poured water onto a glittering sample of aluminum. Soon after, the mixture would start boiling over. For this highly reactive outcome, the aluminum had reacted to hydroxyl ions immediately when water came into contact with it (2Al+6H₂O→Al(OH)₃+3H₂).

This process generates hydrogen gas and heat. Hydrogen gas itself can be used as fuel (in the form of fuel cells), or, in other cases, the intense heat can operate an engine or turbine.

When the US army’s thermobaric weapon exploded, powerful shock waves were generated through an aluminum powder explosion, having the ability to destroy facilities or people.

Clean and convenient fuel – Overcoming its reluctant combustion with nanoscience

This is the biggest advantage of metal fuel. Neither of the two reaction formulas include carbon (C). This means it does not generate carbon dioxide, which is the main cause of climatic change. But this is not its only strength of; metal fuel is renewable. When you burn trees or coal, only unusable gray ashes remain, and other materials get carried away into the air. But when you burn metal fuel, you will get oxidized metal.

After separating oxygen from the oxidized metal through an additional process, you will get the same amount of metal you had before. You will never run out of fuel. Unlike renewable energy, like solar or wind power, you can also use it regardless of weather conditions. Another one of its great merits is that it can be imported and exported by cargo, with no need for installing a separate transmission network.

But using metal as fuel is easier said than done. First, the temperature needs to reach a certain level in order to set fire to the metal, which has an extremely high reactivity. Its high reactivity is, ironically, both its strength and its weakness as a fuel.

The principle of its low combustibility can be explained through this example: if you place pure metal in the air, it becomes rusty by reacting to oxygen and developing a thin layer (oxide coating) on its surface. You can burn metal when it comes into contact with an oxidizer like oxygen, but it interrupts the initial process.

This coating has a very high melting point normally: pure aluminum’s melting point is 660℃, but the oxide coating of aluminum has a melting point of around 2100℃. The burning temperature is not impossible to reach, but it is difficult to get it to that level due to stability and economic feasibility.

This is not the only problem. We still don’t know exactly which conditions produce the amount of firepower we need to safely produce fuel energy. We can burn very small metal particles easily, but the energy we obtain may be too little, or it may arouse the danger of explosion. However, if the particles are too big, they cannot be burnt easily. What we need to do technologically is to figure out the optimal particle size, mixture ratio, and content.

Another obstacle that inhibits the commercialization of metal fuel is that we don’t have the proper technology to stably supply it as needed. For example, when you drive a car, you can always start or stop the engine and drive to the desired speed at any time. This is possible because of the availability of the technology that exactly supplies fuel to the engine as needed.

Gas fuel can easily be controlled by a valve, and liquid fuel can be controlled with a spray. But in metal fuel, the amount is hard to be controlled due to cohesion, a unique property of its powdered form. Cohesion can be explained through imagining flour or powdered sugar forming a cluster. This is the real reason why previous plans attempted by many research institutes in order to develop an automobile steel have ended unsuccessfully.

Favorable conditions for producing electricity

Fortunately, however, several alternatives have been discovered as a result from foundational research on metal fuel. For example, you can easily burn pure metal powder by coating its surface with material that has a low melting point, such as nickel.

Nickel has a lower ignition temperature than aluminum, and reactions between metals generates heat, which in turn burns aluminum faster. (This metal reaction refers to the oxidation-reduction reactions that occur when metals with different ionization tendencies contact each other and have their electrons transferred.)

Recently, a collaborative research team consisting of two professors, Jeffrey Bergthorson and Samuel Goroshin, from McGill University’s mechanical engineering department in Canada, which is considered the world’s leaders in metal fuel research, has succeeded in producing the power equivalent to fossil fuel-powered engines with a heat engine using metal fuel they directly developed.

In the paper they published the ‘Applied Energy’ journal, the research team stated, “The first candidate that can be utilized for this purpose is steel”, and also that “Steel powder produced by steel manufacturers or chemical or electronic industries in the world can be used as fuel for automobiles.”

Results from experimenting with the combustion properties of various metals. Foundational research on metal fuel has finally reached its final step, and scientists are now researching into applying metal fuel to sources such as power plants.ⓒProf. Jeffrey Bergthorson of the mechanical engineering department at McGill University, Canada.

The concept map of an engine using metal fuel developed by Professors Jeffery Bergtorson and Samuel Goroshin of the mechanical engineering department at McGill University, Canada. The heat generated by this system is expected to be used to run an automobile or a home electricity generation system.ⓒSamuel Goroshin & Jeffrey Bergthorson (“Applied Energy” Journal)

Can we really have a car powered by steel in the future? Since metal is still more expensive than other fuel materials, it may not be able to replace every type of fuel. But in particular conditions where there is no oxygen, which is the most commonly used oxidizer, it may be successfully utilized to make electricity. For example, the metal powder in weapons from a supercavitation underwater vehicle can react to water and obtain its driving force. If we can develop technology to control this reaction, we may be able to get a new engine paradigm for a vessel that obtains its driving force by reacting metal powder to seawater.

Written by DongA Science reporter Ahyoung Woo

The opinions expressed in this POSCO Report piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of POSCO.

Celebrate the Radiant Science Behind Colorful Fireworks

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Since the publication of Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in 1869 up until the dawn of today’s sci-fi thrillers such as Stargate Atlantis, the concept of underwater exploration and civilization has captured the imagination of the public. Now, facing problems like overpopulation, rising sea levels and increasing natural disasters, humanity is seeking alternative living environments, and with ever-progressing technology, life under the sea no longer seems all that unrealistic.

In fact, some small underwater habitats already exist, and we have the technology to create and maintain larger ones that could easily support human sustenance. Might it be possible that one day there will be an entire network of undersea cities, brimming with futuristic technology and advanced ways of living? And if it is, how would these sub-aquatic societies be connected? 

Undersea Tunnels, a Brief History

Undersea tunnels, the most likely method of transportation in a world submerged by water, are not a new concept. In fact, the earliest example of such engineering endeavors dates back to around 2100 BCE, when the Babylonians used a tunnel to divert the Euphrates River. It wasn’t until the 19^th century that the world saw a succession of more challenging tunnel projects, made possible by vast improvements in surveying and ventilation techniques.

The first notion of the Channel Tunnel, which connects England and France, was proposed to Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 by a French engineer named Mathieu-Favier, but it wasn’t until the 1960s that it became a reality. Instead, London’s Thames Tunnel became the first modern undersea tunnel in 1843, taking almost 20 years to complete. The tunnel was originally designed for, but never used by, horse-drawn carriages.

Noting the comparable advantages undersea tunnels have over bridges, such as their ability to divert traffic and not be affected by external factors such as wind or rain, city planners began incorporating them into city layouts in the late 1800s. But, at the time, the methods used to construct these tunnels consisted mainly of excavating in painstakingly small increments, and were incredibly time consuming.

The game changed in 1903 with a construction project beneath the Detroit River in America when engineers used a method that involved anchoring premade sections of steel tube into a pre-dug trench on the river floor. Then, in 1971, a new era of underwater tunneling began with the construction of the Seikan Railroad Tunnel, which currently stretches 53.85 kilometers beneath the Tsugaru Strait in Japan. Instead of using the antiquated tunneling techniques of the past, tunnel builders began to utilize giant tunnel boring machines to make the process go faster. Since then, tunneling projects that could once only be conceptualized have become a reality.

The Eurasia Tunnel Project, for example, is a 14.6 kilometer-long road tunnel that will link Europe and Asia via the Bosporus Strait, and is currently in the last stages of construction. It is a project that has long been discussed and aims to reduce traffic in Istanbul, the second-worst European city in terms of traffic congestion.

Tunneling to the Future

Of course transportation tunnels like these would be vital in aquatic lands, but a sustainable undersea city would also need gas, oil, electricity and, most importantly, oxygen. Yet, some of these types of undersea tunnels exist, and are constantly being positioned across the waters of the world.

In the most recent tunnel developments, POSCO, in coordination with GS Caltex and Jeonnam Development Coorporation, has made plans to construct a 3.98 kilometer-long undersea tunnel connecting Gwangyang Port and Yeosu Industrial Complex by the first half of 2019.

POSCO Green Gas Technology will use the undersea pipe network to supply syngas produced at the Gwangyang SNG Plant to GS Caltex, which will then use the syngas for petroleum refining and enhancing processes. Furthermore, the undersea tunnel will minimize risks associated with transport and establish an efficient undersea logistics infrastructure by reducing production and logistical costs.

POSCO’s gas pipeline tunnel is indicative of what is to come. Perhaps the undersea tunnels of the future will allow for the transportation of fresh drinking water, alternative energy resources or even food sources from faraway lands. But with real-life projects concerning tunnels between Morocco and Spain, Japan and South Korea and the mainland of Canada and Prince Edward Island on the table, it is clear that such possibilities are not only realistic, but also limitless.

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If one thinks “working in the steel industry would be boring and stiff as steel”, then he/she is hugely mistaken. In an attempt to eliminate any prejudices similar to this, World Steel Association (worldsteel) launched #Lovesteel Campaign in September 2013. In a form of a series, the campaign illustrates short interviews of young employees and their passions and love toward the steel industry. Furthermore, #Lovesteel Campaign presents how starting a career in steel industry can be indeed exciting and attractive despite the common misconceptions toward the industry.

Whether you are a potential employee considering working in the steel industry or a current employee seeking to build up the career, #Lovesteel Campaign is an excellent source of information and opportunities not to be missed! 

#Lovesteel’s 14^th Participant Company, POSCO

Thirteen companies have been participating in #Lovesteel Campaign since the initial launch in September 2013. POSCO became the 14^th company to join the campaign. Let’s look into episodes of #Lovesteel Campaign POSCO!

1.        Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your job?

My name is Yerim Kim, I’m working in Investor Relations at POSCO. My job is to understand the company’s strategy and business activities in order to find a way to convey these effectively to our investors worldwide. So I have to be aware and stay keen on the events that are going on in-house and also the events that are going on outside the company.

2.        How did your education and experience lead to this job?

I majored in both English literature and business and I always wanted to work in a field where I could make use of both of my academic backgrounds. I got to know the company while working in a previous job in media. I love the idea of the company and its willingness to move forward, so I always wanted to be involved. And as a result, I have ended up in here now.

3.        What do you most like about your job?

The best part of my job is that I get to meet a wide range of people: they’re from all over the world and from different backgrounds but their main interest is the same: it’s about POSCO. So in my work, I get to fulfill their interests and their inquiries. I also get a chance to know my company better, which is very rewarding.

4.        What has most surprised you about the steel industry? 

The most surprising thing about the industry is that it covers a wide spectrum of businesses. In order to understand the dynamics of the steel industry, you have to understand the trend of raw materials, and the trend of demand industries such as automobile and ship-building. So while following all the economic trends, you also get to obtain broader perspectives in global business.

5.        What do you love about steel?

What I love about steel is its availability. You find it every day in your life around you, for example in bicycles, steel products, and even this building where we’re standing in right now. So I get to find inspiration to my work all around me. If you’re looking for something dynamic, steel will be your answer.

Meet other young people in steel field with #Lovesteel videos

You can take a look at more young workers’ stories here.