Gyeongbuk Governor Lee Cheol-woo on the 15th proposed a public-private joint investment project at EcoPro(086520). The idea is to join forces between the public and private sectors to push for building a dedicated treatment plant for wastewater brine from secondary batteries and jointly constructing a five-star hotel and resort.
Gyeongbuk Province said it held the "Gyeongbuk–EcoPro business roundtable" that day at the EcoPro Innovation headquarters in the Yeongilman Industrial Complex in Pohang.
Attending the roundtable were Gyeongbuk Governor Lee Cheol-woo, EcoPro Chairman Lee Dong-chae, Pohang Mayor Park Yong-seon, and Gyeongbuk Vice Governor for Economic Affairs Yang Geum-hee.
At the roundtable, Governor Lee proposed various joint projects to EcoPro. To that end, a joint-planning task force (TF) with participation from local government and corporations will be launched. The TF will then discuss ideas such as building a dedicated treatment plant for wastewater brine from secondary batteries in Yeongilman and jointly constructing a five-star hotel and resort.
Regarding the joint investment project for secondary-battery wastewater brine treatment infrastructure, Governor Lee said, "This is a project that must accelerate not only for strengthening the competitiveness of the secondary-battery industry but also from an environmental standpoint," adding, "It is not simply a task for secondary-battery corporations alone but a task for Gyeongbuk, so we must play an active role."
He added, "Can we expect to foster local industries when corporations doing business in the region with the highest power self-sufficiency rate are struggling with electricity rates?" and "Institutionally backing the growth of regional corporations through the swift implementation of a differential electricity rate system by region is the way to prevent local extinction."
On this day, Governor Lee met with businesspeople for the first time since the launch of the ninth popularly elected term. EcoPro formed ties by signing in 2016 a memorandum of understanding (MOU) worth 150 billion won with Gyeongbuk Province and Pohang City to build a lithium secondary-battery production plant. EcoPro then broke ground on Plant 1 in 2017, completed the Pohang campus in 2021, and began full operation of Campus 4 last year, establishing an annual production system for 270,000 tons of cathode materials.
Thus, the amount EcoPro has invested or plans to invest in Pohang over the past eight years totals 4.9 trillion won. The job creation effect is 3,700 people. As a result, the secondary-battery industry has taken root as a core industry representing Pohang alongside steel. The share of secondary batteries in Pohang's total exports expanded from 1% in 2015 to 38.5% in 2023.
EcoPro Chairman Lee Dong-chae said, "As a local company rooted in the region, we will continue to take the lead in the sustainable growth of the regional economy and the creation of quality jobs," adding, "We will do our best to become a company that grows together with the local community."
Pohang Mayor Park Yong-seon said, "We will spare no support and cooperation so that EcoPro can leap forward as the No. 1 corporation in the secondary-battery materials field." Gyeongbuk Governor Lee Cheol-woo said, "If the seventh to eighth popularly elected terms were business-friendly Gyeongbuk, public-private cooperation version 1.0, the ninth popularly elected term is business-companion Gyeongbuk, public-private cooperation version 2.0," adding, "Beyond simply subsidizing what corporations need, the time has come to plan and invest together."