POSCO Group has established a production facility for rare gases used in the semiconductor and aerospace industries. The ability to produce high-purity xenon, krypton, and neon domestically is expected to impact the stability of the supply chain for related materials.

POSCO Air Solution announced on the 17th that it held a completion ceremony for a high-purity rare gas production plant at the Donghoan site of the Gwangyang Steelworks. The company is an affiliate of POSCO Group responsible for the industrial gas business.

This plant has an annual production capacity of 130,000 normal cubic meters (Nm³). It produces xenon (Xe), krypton (Kr), and neon (Ne) by refining raw gas extracted from the steel mill's oxygen plant.

Rare gases are key materials used in photolithography and etching during the semiconductor manufacturing process. They are also required in high-tech industries such as aerospace and medical technology.

According to the company, the factory is capable of supplying approximately 52% of the demand for rare gases required by the domestic semiconductor industry.

POSCO established a related organization in 2021 to strengthen its rare gas business and expanded it into the Industrial Gas Division in 2023. We established a raw material procurement system based on a structure that utilizes gases generated from steel mills.

The completion of this factory has established a domestic production base for rare gases used in semiconductors and aerospace. These are items that previously had a high dependence on imports.

POSCO Group is also pursuing the expansion of its specialty gas business. It is currently reviewing plans to produce various industrial gases by utilizing gases generated during the steel production process.

POSCO Group Chairman Jang In-hwa said, “We are now able to stably supply core materials needed for high-tech industries by producing them domestically.”