The South Korean government is taking significant steps to establish a "battery triangular belt" that connects battery cell production in the Chungcheong region, key material production in the Yeongnam region, and raw material manufacturing in the Honam region. The initiative aims to enhance the domestic supply chain for all-solid-state and sodium batteries, as well as expand the infrastructure for recycling materials.
On September 1, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held a meeting at the Sejong Marriott Hotel with local governments from Chungcheongbuk-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Jeollabuk-do, along with relevant organizations, to discuss the construction of innovative infrastructure for the battery triangular belt. This project seeks to create a complete industrial ecosystem that connects raw materials, components, cells, and recycling within the country, thereby diversifying the supply chain and improving supply stability.
The ministry has previously announced plans to invest approximately 180 billion won this year in the development of next-generation battery technologies, including all-solid-state batteries, and to expand battery demand in sectors such as energy storage systems (ESS), defense, and robotics.
To address challenges faced by businesses and local governments, the government has conducted town hall meetings and established a battery triangular belt consultative body. During the recent meeting, participants reviewed the collected issues and discussed support measures tailored to the industrial conditions of each region.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and local governments are considering joint efforts to build infrastructure capable of evaluating the performance of all-solid-state batteries. They also plan to expand testing centers for the commercialization of sodium batteries and safety assessments for batteries using recycled materials.
Additionally, they will collaboratively promote the establishment of power supply facilities within specialized national strategic industry complexes. Timely power infrastructure is crucial for battery production facilities, as delays in power network construction can hinder corporate investments and factory operations.
The ministry will review new projects proposed by local governments in collaboration with relevant agencies to determine their feasibility. Projects requiring further evaluation will undergo planning revisions by December before being reassessed.
Regular consultation channels with local governments will also be established to identify new projects that reflect regional industrial foundations and corporate demands, with the goal of nurturing the battery triangular belt as a key growth engine for each region.
A ministry official stated, "The battery triangular belt is a significant task that goes beyond simply creating regional complexes; it aims to establish an organic battery supply chain at the national level. We will maximize the strengths of specialized complexes and concentrate national resources to ensure that support projects at each hub proceed without disruption."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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