Korea DME Association Hosts Asia-Pacific DME Forum

▲Participants in the Asia-Pacific DME Forum are committed to practicing carbon neutrality.

The Korea DME Association (President Won-jun Cho) held the Asia-Pacific DME Forum 2022 at Intercity Hotel in Daejeon from October 27 to 28. About 100 related businesses from all over the country and 20 CEOs and officials who are leading related businesses in India, Japan, and the United States participated in the forum that day, drawing attention. This forum was prepared to supply DME/rDME (Renewable DME) fuel, which is attracting attention as a low-carbon fuel, to Asia and the Pacific Rim in response to the demands of the era of carbon neutrality and the goal of sustainable technological development.

▲CEO Won-Jun Cho explains the DME/rDME conversion technology.

Cho Won-jun, president of the Korea DME Association, said, “Renewable DME is receiving new attention for two things that have recently emerged as a big issue for global environmental conservation: a sustainable business model and greenhouse gas, especially carbon dioxide reduction.” “Our Korea DME Association invited organizations interested in the Asia and Pacific region to join us today to discuss the timing and supply of rDME, which is emerging as a greenhouse gas reduction or carbon-neutral business, and open up the future.”
 
Kyunghwa Jung Chungcheongbuk-do Energy New Industry Team Leader also stressed the need for carbon neutrality in a congratulatory speech, saying, "With various carbons generated from fossil fuels, all parts of the world are in a climate crisis. Carbon neutrality is a goal that we humans must achieve as one."
 "To realize this, North America, the European Union, and ASEAN have declared a transition to carbon-neutral society to actively respond to the climate crisis, and the 2022 Asia-Pacific DME Forum, which is the foundation for greater technological development and industrial development, is attracting attention as low-carbon fuels."

The following presentations on rDME business models and potential markets in Indonesia, India, Japan, the United States, and Korea drew the attention of the attendees.

Invitation to Asian countries, rDME commercialization and potential market discussion

Won-jun Cho, CEO of BioFriends, who serves as the president of the Korea DME Association that hosted the forum, announced three reasons that affect the current carbon neutrality status of Korea under the theme of 'domestic rDME business and LPG-rDME market'.

 CEO Won jun Cho pointed out the reality of the manufacturing-based industrial structure with high energy consumption, the slow development of renewable energy due to financial, environmental and geographical influences compared to other advanced countries, and the failure to utilize nuclear power plants for carbon neutrality. pointed out that the reality is that it is difficult to convert energy to 100% green energy.” “However, BioFriends Co., Ltd. has created a carbon-neutral (Net-Zero) business model using atmospheric carbon dioxide capture and storage technology (CCUS), methanol → DME conversion technology, and DME hydrogen extraction technology,” he suggested.

In fact, BioFriends Inc. is currently researching and demonstrating the commercialization of the net-zero business model, and is working to expand the domestic DME market (aerosol, refrigerant, fuel, hydrogen, etc.).

▲Participants of Asia-Pacific DME Forum 2022 are on a tour of BioFriends' Boeun Factory.

In addition, BioFriends is constructing a plant with an annual production capacity of 15,000 tons in Boeun Industrial Complex in North Chungcheong Province, and the DME produced here is planned to be used as aerosol, refrigerant, hydrogen supply, and agricultural fuel (LPG-rDME blend).

In particular, from 2023, the LPG + DME mixed fuel supply business in connection with the rural LPG supply business and the industrial boiler fuel conversion business is also being promoted, so there are high expectations.

Under the theme of 'DME Prospects and Potential Markets in Indonesia', Mr. Indradjaja, CEO PT BUTO, Bumar Energy in Indonesia, said, “Indonesia's MEMR (Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources) is an energy substitute, and among them, DME is focused on development. In the future, DME is an alternative to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) that meets household energy needs.”

In addition, he emphasized efficiency, saying, “DME has similar chemical and physical properties to LPG, and because of this similarity, existing LPG infrastructure such as cylinders and storage can be utilized.”

He continued, “In the National Energy Strategy compiled by MEMR, DME is one of the alternative energy to reduce LPG imports. DME equivalent to 3 million tons of LPG is needed by 2030.” “To meet the demand of DME, the Indonesian government is currently PTBA is working with Pertamina and Air Products to support a program that is doing coal downstreaming.”

Under the theme of 'the need for carbon neutrality', Venkateshwaran, CEO of Hans Industrial Co., Ltd. in India, said, “India will achieve carbon neutrality by 2070 as part of five action plans that include reducing emissions by 50% by 2030. We will reach it,” said India’s position.

He also announced five carbon-neutral policies to be pursued in India, saying, “By 2030, the total projected carbon emissions will be 1 billion tons, the carbon intensity of the economy will be reduced to 45%, and Net Zero by 2070.”
Gundo Sujarjo, the CEO of SM (PT) from Indonesia, said, “The Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) has announced the ‘2021-2026 energy investment project plan in April 2021. “We plan to promote a policy of replacing about 7-8 million of LPG imports with DME.”

Bongjoo Bryce Shim, CEO of H&H Worldwide from the US, gave a presentation under the theme of 'DME&rDME in the US market'.
“DME is a low-cost, low-carbon and zero-soot option for petroleum diesel,” said Shim. It’s simple,” he said, emphasizing the effectiveness of DME.

“When DME is combined with LPG, the product will significantly minimize the carbon strength of widely used clean combustion fuels, and traditional DME is transitioning to a renewable DME market.” As the rDME project is being actively pursued, the US rDME market also needs to diversify its scope to deal with bio-based and carbon capture-based renewable DME production.”

 Daisuke Ishikawa, head of production at TAIYO PETROLEUM GAS CO, LTD., said, "Japan currently uses DME, which is low toxicity, eco-friendly, and high solubility under CFC regulations," adding, "It is widely used as an aerosol (paint, cosmetics, and insecticide).
Although research on DME for fuel has been actively implemented, the task of building infrastructure remains."


 "In the past, Japanese DME manufacturers included Mitsubishi GAS Chemical and Sumitomo Precision Chemical, but Mitsubishi GAS Chemical is the only one since 2017," he said. "Japan's total demand for DME is about 10,000 tons per year, more than 90% of which is aerosol, and most of 10% is used as a foaming agent."

▲Foreign entrepreneurs who visited BioFriends' business site are inspecting the facilities.

On the second day, October 28, we had a meaningful time exploring every nook and cranny of the Bio Friends DME plant and related facilities in Boeun Industrial Complex, which is managed by Chairman Cho Won-jun.
Afterwards, he visited the Maltijae area of ​​Songnisan Mountain and Beopjusa Temple to introduce Boeun, a tourist attraction, to the world.

Meanwhile, BioFriends Co., Ltd., which is run by Cho Won-jun, Chairman of the Korea DME Association, is based in the Boeun Industrial Complex and produces dimethyl ether (DME), a clean raw material, and has a reputation as the leading company in the R-DME (Renewable DME) industry. there is me
BioFriends Co., Ltd. recorded 3.7 billion won in sales in 2020 from 1.3 billion won before the Boeun plant started operation. expects a circle.
In addition, the number of employees from 25 until last year has increased significantly, exceeding 44 in just over a year, demonstrating that the company is developing rapidly, and sustainable development is expected as a leader in low-carbon fuel.

Source: Boeun News

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