SK Ecoplant bolsters ties with Nevada on batteries, e-waste recycling

SK Ecoplant CEO Park Kyung-il (left) and Governor of Nevada Joe Lombardo pose for a photo at the company’s electronics waste recycling subsidiary TES plant in Las Vegas, Sunday. (SK Ecoplant)

SK Ecoplant, the construction arm of South Korea’s second-largest conglomerate SK Group, said Monday it will boost business ties with the US state of Nevada on electric vehicles and electronic waste recycling.

SK Ecoplant CEO Park Kyung-il met with Governor of Nevada Joe Lombardo on Sunday at the company’s recycling subsidiary TES in Las Vegas.

The two leaders looked around the e-waste recycling plant and discussed TES’ e-waste business, battery recycling technology and global network expansion.

The company said Lombardo lauded the plant’s IT Asset Disposition process, which refers to a practice built around responsibly disposing of and recycling outdated or unwanted electronic equipment such as smartphones and PCs. The process works to completely erase the private information of previous owners. The processed IT device is sold as a refurbished product or taken apart into components.

SK Ecoplant added that its safeguards on private data disposal are designed to meet strict global guidelines, which has helped the company to build long-term trust with corporate clients overseas.

Stressing that Lombardo showed great interest in its EV battery recycling technology, the company said it is considering using TES’ Las Vegas plant as a base in west North America to recycle waste batteries.

Nevada is a logistics hub in the southwest of the US, as well as a business-friendly regulatory environment, two key factors that foster a competitive edge in the battery recycling market, according to SK Ecoplant.

SK Ecoplant and Nevada also plan to ramp up the renewable energy business. The company said its self-sufficient value chain would boost Nevada’s energy strategy which aims to generate approximately 50 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

SK Ecoplant covers businesses ranging from renewable energy development, manufacturing equipment, and Engineering, Procurement and Construction, to green hydrogen production. The company is already participating in the 459 megawatt-scale solar power business in Texas and the $4.5 billion Nujio’qonik green hydrogen project in Canada.

“The US state of Nevada, a strategic base for EVs and batteries with huge potential for renewable energy including solar power, can play a pivotal role in achieving the global net zero target,” said Park in a statement. “As it is in line with SK Ecoplant’s environment and energy businesses, we will maintain a strategic partnership and explore new business opportunities.”

The company runs 50 e-waste and battery recycling plants in 23 countries, including the US, China, Singapore, France and the Netherlands. In the US alone, it either operates or plans to build eight bases in Seattle; Atlanta; Fredericksburg, Texas; and Kentucky, among other areas.

By Byun Hye-jin(hyejin2@heraldcorp.com)