SK: New Energy Source to Be Commercialized

South Korea is stepping up efforts to develop a new eco-friendly energy source and establish implementation for full-scale use of the fuel, dimethyl ether (DME), from 2012.

Coal-based DME is an alternative fuel to liquefied petroleum gas (LNG), liquefied natural gas, diesel and gasoline and is considered to be environmental friendly. The government hopes that DME will reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy said Monday that the construction of a demonstration plant that could produce 10 tons of DME a day will be completed by May 2008, with pilot commercial operations using the fuel to begin the following year.

The ministry will form a task force consisting of the Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) and Korea Gas Safety Corporation (KGS) to set up standardized regulations on DME-related products.

“The government plans to provide 100 tons of DME per annum for domestic use from 2010 after KOGAS successfully develops small- and medium-sized overseas fields,’’ an official from the ministry said.

Korea Times