GS Caltex said Thursday it is poised to set up a smart manufacturing platform powered by artificial intelligence, accelerating its green push in the petrochemical industry.
This initiative is part of an Industry Ministry project that aims to advance South Korea’s manufacturing landscape by integrating AI technology. This not only streamlines automated production processes, but also facilitates a shift from mass production to a customized system for a diverse range of products.
In September last year, GS Caltex was selected to lead efforts in optimizing manufacturing processes and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the refining and petrochemical industries alongside local research institutions, universities and municipal governments. Following several months of preparation, the company officially launched the 8 billion won ($5.5 million) project this month.
The project will be carried out in two phases until the end of 2028. The first phase involves collecting and analyzing operational data from each refining and petrochemical process to develop AI optimization models. GS Caltex will then establish an AI-powered smart manufacturing platform and demonstrate its capabilities in its plant in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province.
“Refining and petrochemical processes generate vast real-time data and involve complex interactions (between processes), making traditional approaches relying on skilled workers very challenging,” stated GS Caltex. “We plan to develop AI models that analyze correlations among key variables to optimize input quantities, product specifications and yields, and CO2 emissions.”
Specifically, the company will expand the digital scan monitoring system, initially used in the hydrogen production process, to inspect furnaces responsible for preheating raw materials in the petrochemical manufacturing processes.
Project participants, including GS Caltex, expect this government-led project to enhance the productivity of petrochemical companies within the Yeosu National Industrial Complex.
“Amid a prolonged downturn in the petrochemical industry caused by oversupply from China’s facility expansions and a global demand slump, AI-based process optimization offers a vital opportunity to improve profitability by reducing costs and enhancing operational efficiency,” the company said. “Furthermore, it is anticipated to promote digital transformation among local companies, create new jobs and revitalize the regional economy.”
GS Caltex’s Yeosu plant has continuously leveraged AI technology to boost the productivity of value-added petrochemical products and hydrogen. It has also upgraded safety measures with AI-driven CCTVs as well as virtual reality and mixed reality systems. Drones are also used for work at high-altitudes and in confined spaces, while wireless gas detectors are deployed to restricted areas to ensure worker safety.
By Byun Hye-jin (hyejin2@heraldcorp.com)
