GS E&C signs MOU with St1 to produce bioethanol in Thailand

Industry

Published: 31 Aug. 2022, 17:00

GS E&C signs MOU with St1 to produce bioethanol in Thailand

From left: GS Engineering & Construction's new business division head Huh Yoon-hong, St1 Renewable Energy Thailand Director Patrick Pitkanen and St1 Managing Director Antti Aromaki pose for a photo after signing a memorandum of understanding on Monday. [GS ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION]

GS Engineering & Construction signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with St1, a Helsinki-based energy company, to produce bioethanol in Thailand.

The two companies will work together to produce bioethanol using cassava peels, which are a byproduct in the production of other food products such as flour.

The MOU was signed Monday in Bangkok, Thailand. GS Engineering & Construction says it chose Thailand because the country is the world’s third largest producer of cassava. The company claims producing bioethanol using cassava peels is the most sustainable method considering other methods that use products like corn, sugar cane and wheat that can be eaten.

St1 Renewable Energy Thailand, St1's subsidiary based in Bangkok, can produce bioethanol from cassava pulp and will provide its technology to the two companies.

“The cooperation between the two companies will be a start to further businesses related to producing bioethanol from other unused waste,” said Huh Yoon-hong, head of GS Engineering & Construction’s new business division. “We will do our best to become Korea’s leading company in sustainable management by exploring new eco-friendly business opportunities.”

GS Engineering & Construction has been tapping into various eco-friendly new businesses, such as building modular houses that minimize construction waste and recycling battery materials.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]