The seventh episode of the Green Transformation series, where you can check the efforts of SK Innovation towards Decarbonization, is a story related to SK Energy. SK Energy, which started as Korea’s first and top oil refining company in 1962, is leading the domestic and overseas markets in the asphalt business as well as the petroleum business. For green transformation, SK Energy is accelerating the development of various eco-friendly asphalt products. Let’s learn more about this by meeting with Choi Sung-jun, Head of Asphalt/Bunkering Business Office, SK Energy.

▲ Choi Sung-jun, Head of Asphalt/Bunkering Business Office, SK Energy

ㅣ What is the background of the eco-friendly asphalt business?

What do you usually think when you see road pavement work? I know that many people may wonder “Would the black thing that smokes be harmful to the environment?” As environmental issues have long been a global concern, our Asphalt/Bunkering Business has established a strategic direction of “making eco-friendly products”. In order to secure competitive edges through specializing in asphalt, a commodity product, we have been researching and developing various lines of products since 2015. Recently, under the Net Zero target of our company, we are accelerating the conversion of all asphalt products to eco-friendly ones.

ㅣ How is the eco-friendly asphalt business going?

SK Energy’s sales of asphalt for roads in Korea are around 450,000 tons per year. More than 30% of asphalt sales this year are eco-friendly products. We plan to increase this rate up to 70% by 2025, and then completely convert all the products into eco-friendly ones in 2028.

ㅣ Which products are grouped as eco-friendly asphalt?

Premium Asphalt can be produced and constructed at a temperature about 30℃ lower than that of general asphalt concrete. Therefore it can reduce emissions of about 12 types of air pollutants and toxic substances, and it can also reduce the occurrence of potholes.

▲ Comparison between SK Energy’s Superphalt and other Polymer Modified Asphalt – Image Source: Official Website of SK Energy Asphalt (http://www.skasphalt.com/)

PMA (Polymer Modified Asphalt) can be used for twice as long as normal asphalt roads, and it also bring other benefits such as better drainage and less noise.

Recycled Asphalt is made of waste asphalt without any additives. It is expected to reduce the environmental cost of landfilling and disposing of used asphalt, increasing the recycling rate of waste asphalt in Korea, which is still low compared to other developed countries.

ㅣ What are the expected outcomes of this business?

Eco-friendly asphalt provides drivers with the benefits of safe and comfortable road use. It also contributes to resolving pain points such as civil complaints by improving the production environment for asphalt concrete producers. With the shift to eco-friendly products, SK Energy intend to solidify our market leadership by securing unique competitiveness, which is not price-related, and contribute to our company’s Green Transformation.

ㅣ Any other message to company’s members?

In the future, we will keep accelerating the expansion of the eco-friendly asphalt market and the development of various eco-friendly products, contributing to the company’s Net Zero goal, as well as creating an eco-friendly road environment where all citizens can drive safe. We ask for your interest and support for our green journey.

Click the video below to learn more about SK Energy’s eco-friendly asphalt: