S. Korea set to expand marine biomass resources

SEOUL, April 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will spend 365.3 billion won (US$271.5
million) in the next 10 years to create new seaweed forests that can help
increase the country's ability to produce biomass energy, officials said
Wednesday.

The plan calls for 35,000 hectares of seaweed forest to be created in waters in
the east and south coasts and near Jeju Island that can produce up to 1.56
billion liters of ethanol per year by 2020.
The total is equivalent to 13.7 percent of the country's predicted gasoline
supply in the cited year, which could reach 11.4 billion liters.
At present the country has the capability to produce 38 million liters of marine
biomass.
"In the first stage, 77.9 billion won will be spent up till 2013, including 10
billion won set aside for this year, with private investment being sought for
commercial biomass production that can start after 2017," said Kang Joon-suk,
head of the ministry's fishery resources bureau.
He said that seaweed forests can also help reduce the country's carbon dioxide
output by 10.8 million tons in the cited year from 476,000 tons at present.
Other benefits expected from biomass cultivation are some 21,625 tons of lithium
and natural uranium to be extracted for commercial use, the official said.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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