YEOSU, South Jeolla Province ― POSCO on Tuesday unveiled the first glimpse of its pavilion at the forthcoming Expo 2012 Yeosu that highlights the steelmaker’s efforts to spearhead green technology and shore up ecosystem dynamics.

Under the theme “Living Ocean and Coast,” 106 countries and nine international organizations will showcase their diverse marine development and advancement of oceanic technology on the southern shore of the Korean Peninsula starting May 12.

The world’s fourth-largest steel mill is one of the seven companies to run corporate pavilions during the three-month event along with Hyundai Motor, LG, Samsung, GS Caltex and others. 

The white-color, three-story exhibition hall on a 2,100-square meter site introduces POSCO’s ongoing development of renewable energy and marine resources under five themes ― love, challenge, world, environment and ocean.

The nautilus-shaped pavilion, which has no doors, bespeaks its devotion to nature and corporate philosophy of open communication, the company said.

The centerpiece of its technology displays is an aquatic forest built in the coastal waters of Yeosu, which was made with slag, a byproduct of steelmaking derived while sifting out impurities from molten steel in a blast furnace.

Slag-based artificial fishing reefs, nicknamed Triton, help lower carbon dioxide levels in seawater and catalyze the growth of marine algae, which forms the basis of marine food chains, researchers said.

“The sea forest has proven to be effective in restoring coastal ecosystems and precluding red tide and blue tide without having a negative impact on any marine organism,” said Park Kwang-seok, a senior researcher at the POSCO-affiliated Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology, citing pilot programs.

“We can also curb carbon emissions through the entire slag processing and photosynthesis in the sea forest.”

Pohang-based RIST embarked on the 1 billion won ($876,000) project 10 years ago as part of the steelmaker’s efforts to boost social contributions and better deal with stiffening environmental regulations.

After successful demonstration, the think tank created Triton forests at 12 sites nationwide in collaboration with the government and plans to add two this year. It also will work with other institutions in Japan, Indonesia and Taiwan to promote the technology, Park added.

By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)