Malaysia
Malaysia
Malaysia
13 October 2025
13 October 2025
13 October 2025
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OCI TerraSus leads circular innovation towards net zero
OCI TerraSus leads circular innovation towards net zero
OCI TerraSus leads circular innovation towards net zero
OCI TerraSus is playing an active role in advancing Sarawak’s vision to become leader in renewable energy and circular economy.
OCI TerraSus is playing an active role in advancing Sarawak’s vision to become leader in renewable energy and circular economy.
OCI TerraSus is playing an active role in advancing Sarawak’s vision to become leader in renewable energy and circular economy.
Our Senior Director for Sustainable Value Creation, Prof. Dr. Kim SooYeon believed OCI TerraSus’ efforts had positioned the company as a key contributor to the Sarawak Sustainability Blueprint through circular economy, sustainable manufacturing and sustainable stewardship of natural assets. Speaking at a dialogue session at a two-day Road to Belem: Accelerating Climate Action in Sarawak conference held on 7–8 October at a leading hotel in Kuching, Dr. Kim shared two key sustainability initiatives implemented at OCI TerraSus’ Samalaju plant which showcase the company’s commitment to cleaner production and resource efficiency. The first initiative- the Brine Recycling Process- represents a closed-loop collaboration between OCI TerraSus and Kumho P&B Chemicals through their joint venture, OCI Kumho. In this process, natural salt, one of the main raw materials for producing caustic soda at OCI TerraSus, is supplied to OCI Kumho, where the caustic soda is used to manufacture epichlorohydrin (ECH), a key ingredient in epoxy resins. The ECH production process generates brine (salt water) as a by-product. Rather than discarding it, the brine is returned to OCI TerraSus to be reused in caustic soda production, creating a circular system between the two plants. Through this initiative, OCI TerraSus is able to recycle approximately 400 kilometric tonnes of brine annually, enabling wastewater-free production at OCI Kumho while significantly reducing the need for new raw salt at OCI TerraSus. “This initiative exemplifies circular thinking in practice, transforming waste into a valuable resource while reducing environmental impact and promoting sustainable manufacturing,” explained Dr. Kim. The second initiative focuses on energy circularity through the Steam Recovery System. The Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) process, which produces polysilicon, generates extremely high heat. Instead of letting that heat go to waste, the system captures and reuses it to generate new steam. The steam produced is used across the plant for various operational needs, while the condensed water is channelled back to capture the heat again, creating a continuous, self-sustaining loop. This innovation allows OCI TerraSus to recover about 148 tonnes of steam per hour, achieving 60% recovery efficiency and reducing electricity usage by approximately 40% which is an equivalent to 100 megawatts per day. “The result is greater energy efficiency, lower freshwater demand and more sustainable production, aligning environmental responsibility with operational excellence. “As a Korean company rooted in Sarawak, we are committed to creating sustainable value through innovation and partnership. “By closing the loop, turning waste into resource and heat into energy, we move closer to our shared vision of a low-carbon, circular future,” she emphasized,” she said. The dialogue session was moderated by Richard Baker, Sustainability & Climate Change Leader at PwC Malaysia.
Our Senior Director for Sustainable Value Creation, Prof. Dr. Kim SooYeon believed OCI TerraSus’ efforts had positioned the company as a key contributor to the Sarawak Sustainability Blueprint through circular economy, sustainable manufacturing and sustainable stewardship of natural assets. Speaking at a dialogue session at a two-day Road to Belem: Accelerating Climate Action in Sarawak conference held on 7–8 October at a leading hotel in Kuching, Dr. Kim shared two key sustainability initiatives implemented at OCI TerraSus’ Samalaju plant which showcase the company’s commitment to cleaner production and resource efficiency. The first initiative- the Brine Recycling Process- represents a closed-loop collaboration between OCI TerraSus and Kumho P&B Chemicals through their joint venture, OCI Kumho. In this process, natural salt, one of the main raw materials for producing caustic soda at OCI TerraSus, is supplied to OCI Kumho, where the caustic soda is used to manufacture epichlorohydrin (ECH), a key ingredient in epoxy resins. The ECH production process generates brine (salt water) as a by-product. Rather than discarding it, the brine is returned to OCI TerraSus to be reused in caustic soda production, creating a circular system between the two plants. Through this initiative, OCI TerraSus is able to recycle approximately 400 kilometric tonnes of brine annually, enabling wastewater-free production at OCI Kumho while significantly reducing the need for new raw salt at OCI TerraSus. “This initiative exemplifies circular thinking in practice, transforming waste into a valuable resource while reducing environmental impact and promoting sustainable manufacturing,” explained Dr. Kim. The second initiative focuses on energy circularity through the Steam Recovery System. The Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) process, which produces polysilicon, generates extremely high heat. Instead of letting that heat go to waste, the system captures and reuses it to generate new steam. The steam produced is used across the plant for various operational needs, while the condensed water is channelled back to capture the heat again, creating a continuous, self-sustaining loop. This innovation allows OCI TerraSus to recover about 148 tonnes of steam per hour, achieving 60% recovery efficiency and reducing electricity usage by approximately 40% which is an equivalent to 100 megawatts per day. “The result is greater energy efficiency, lower freshwater demand and more sustainable production, aligning environmental responsibility with operational excellence. “As a Korean company rooted in Sarawak, we are committed to creating sustainable value through innovation and partnership. “By closing the loop, turning waste into resource and heat into energy, we move closer to our shared vision of a low-carbon, circular future,” she emphasized,” she said. The dialogue session was moderated by Richard Baker, Sustainability & Climate Change Leader at PwC Malaysia.
Our Senior Director for Sustainable Value Creation, Prof. Dr. Kim SooYeon believed OCI TerraSus’ efforts had positioned the company as a key contributor to the Sarawak Sustainability Blueprint through circular economy, sustainable manufacturing and sustainable stewardship of natural assets. Speaking at a dialogue session at a two-day Road to Belem: Accelerating Climate Action in Sarawak conference held on 7–8 October at a leading hotel in Kuching, Dr. Kim shared two key sustainability initiatives implemented at OCI TerraSus’ Samalaju plant which showcase the company’s commitment to cleaner production and resource efficiency. The first initiative- the Brine Recycling Process- represents a closed-loop collaboration between OCI TerraSus and Kumho P&B Chemicals through their joint venture, OCI Kumho. In this process, natural salt, one of the main raw materials for producing caustic soda at OCI TerraSus, is supplied to OCI Kumho, where the caustic soda is used to manufacture epichlorohydrin (ECH), a key ingredient in epoxy resins. The ECH production process generates brine (salt water) as a by-product. Rather than discarding it, the brine is returned to OCI TerraSus to be reused in caustic soda production, creating a circular system between the two plants. Through this initiative, OCI TerraSus is able to recycle approximately 400 kilometric tonnes of brine annually, enabling wastewater-free production at OCI Kumho while significantly reducing the need for new raw salt at OCI TerraSus. “This initiative exemplifies circular thinking in practice, transforming waste into a valuable resource while reducing environmental impact and promoting sustainable manufacturing,” explained Dr. Kim. The second initiative focuses on energy circularity through the Steam Recovery System. The Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) process, which produces polysilicon, generates extremely high heat. Instead of letting that heat go to waste, the system captures and reuses it to generate new steam. The steam produced is used across the plant for various operational needs, while the condensed water is channelled back to capture the heat again, creating a continuous, self-sustaining loop. This innovation allows OCI TerraSus to recover about 148 tonnes of steam per hour, achieving 60% recovery efficiency and reducing electricity usage by approximately 40% which is an equivalent to 100 megawatts per day. “The result is greater energy efficiency, lower freshwater demand and more sustainable production, aligning environmental responsibility with operational excellence. “As a Korean company rooted in Sarawak, we are committed to creating sustainable value through innovation and partnership. “By closing the loop, turning waste into resource and heat into energy, we move closer to our shared vision of a low-carbon, circular future,” she emphasized,” she said. The dialogue session was moderated by Richard Baker, Sustainability & Climate Change Leader at PwC Malaysia.