EVLN(Korea: world's leading rechargeable battery producer)
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--- {EVangel}[Our thanks to David]
>From the Korea Herald (English language newspaper from Seoul)
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2002/08/22/200208220014.asp
Gov't unveils plan to foster rechargeable battery industry
The government yesterday unveiled a plan to make Korea the
world's leading producer of rechargeable batteries with a 40
percent stake of the global market.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy finalized the
plan at a meeting of the government-industry committee on
promotion of the rechargeable battery business.
The ministry has selected rechargeable lithium ion batteries
as the nation's strategic industrial product for the future,
following semiconductors and display devices.
"The world's rechargeable battery market is expected to grow
to $13.1 billion this year, exceeding the annual global
sales of DRAM (dynamic random access memory) chips,
estimated at $11.9 billion," a ministry official said.
Rechargeable batteries refer to chemical cells capable of
repeating charges and discharges through electrical and
chemical reactions. They are widely used in mobile phones,
notebook personal computers, personal digital assistants
(PDAs) and even electric automobiles.
Currently, Korea has a monthly output capacity of 12 million
rechargeable battery cells, but lags far behind Japan in
terms of core materials, equipment, technology, manpower and
infrastructure.
"By 2006, the lithium ion battery market is projected to
expand further to $15.8 billion, pressing the Korean
government to hurriedly map out development and fostering
strategies for the sector," the official said.
Under the development plan, the government plans to launch a
large-scale project to develop cells, parts, materials and
production equipment as a package.
"The plan will pursue two goals - to commercialize
high-efficiency lithium ion polymer batteries in five years
and to develop small-sized fcs that overcome
limitations in energy storage within 10 years," the official
explained.
To realize these goals, the ministry plans to set up the
Battery Materials Research Center and Lithium Polymer
Battery Center by 2007, and the Small-size Fuel Cell Center
and Battery Technology Evaluation Center by 2008.
It also plans to foster firms specializing battery parts,
materials and production equipment.
The ministry plans to designate rechargeable batteries as an
item that should be recycled, when domestic production of
rechargeable batteries reaches 50 million units, the minimum
level of production deemed necessary for recycling.
Meanwhile, the ministry said the number of domestic
companies engaged in the battery business exceeds 35,
including nine cell producers, seven equipment vendors and
nine parts suppliers. The industry is being led by Samsung
SDI, LG Chemical and SKC.
"With the nation's mass-production of rechargeable batteries
in the third year now and Samsung SDI and LG Chemical in the
midst of working out their own investment-expansion plans,
the development blueprint is expected to provide fresh
momentum," the official said. 2002.08.22
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