S. Korea set to expand marine biomass resources

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in paras 2, 4, 6-11)
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, the government said
Wednesday.
The plan by the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries calls for
35,000 hectares of a seaweed forest to be created in waters on 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 from roughly 11,000 hectares of seaweed forest. Most seaweed is used as
food and is not grown on a large enough scale to affect commercial applications.
"In the first stage, 77.9 billion won will be spent up until 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.
The director general said that while the underwater forest can be used to make
energy in the future, it can also help the country increase its fisheries
resources by providing a favorable environment for marine wildlife.
"Overall, the need to grow large-scale seaweed forests and produce fuel from them
could create up to 16,000 new jobs for the country," the official claimed.
Other benefits from the plan could help the country reduce its carbon dioxide
output by 10.8 million tons in the cited year from 476,000 tons at present.
Because seaweed can be cultivated in waters less than 20 meters deep, it can
carry out photosynthesis like plants that grow on land.
The ministry said that while there is a need to fully develop necessary
technology, up to 21,625 tons of lithium and natural uranium could be extracted
for commercial use, increasing the value of the marine resource.
Research and development is underway to use seaweed as a fuel source, with South
Korea leading the global effort along with countries like the United States and
Japan.
At present, the ability to produce bio-fuel from seaweed falls short of other
biomass materials like corn, making the process economically non-viable. Local
scientists said continued effort is needed to raise productivity.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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