POSCO group to build Steel GX decarbonized industrial ecosystem
- Plans HyREX hydrogen‑reduction steelmaking demonstration facility of 300,000 t/yr in Pohang by 2028.
- Projects KRW 6 trillion regional economic effect, creation of 14,000 jobs, and 560,000 tonnes annual CO2 reduction in the Southeastern cluster.
- Proposes TIMUP public‑private framework (Technology, Installation, Market, Utility, Policy) to coordinate technology, energy supply and market creation.
- Will expand Steel GX from the Pohang‑Ulsan Southeastern cluster to the Southwestern Gwangyang region after verification.
Project overview
POSCO group announced it will develop a decarbonized industrial ecosystem under the K‑GX signature project "Steel GX," centered on its HyREX hydrogen reduction steelmaking technology and phased technology development and demonstration.
Technology and energy requirements
POSCO said HyREX operates continuously and therefore requires timely supply of stable, economical clean energy, notably large‑scale electricity and clean hydrogen, for a viable process transition.
TIMUP public‑private framework
The company proposed TIMUP—Technology, Installation, Market, Utility, Policy—where firms drive technology and facility transition while the government secures clean energy supply, low‑carbon market creation and infrastructure.
Southeastern demonstration and scale‑up
POSCO plans a Southeastern Cluster centered on Pohang with a HyREX demonstration plant of 300,000 t/yr by 2028, linking a clean hydrogen supply chain to the Pohang and Ulsan industrial complexes, and intends to expand Steel GX to the Southwestern Gwangyang region after verification.
Regional impact and downstream support
The group estimates roughly KRW 6 trillion in economic effect, 14,000 jobs and 560,000 tonnes of additional annual carbon reduction in the Southeastern region, and says it will support green transitions in sectors including mobility, AI data centers and robotics.
Source: POSCO