Samsung Electronics will stably secure industrial water through the reuse of effluent from public wastewater treatment plants.

On the 30th, Samsung Electronics signed a business agreement with the Ministry of Environment, Gyeonggi Province and five cities (Suwon, Yongin, Hwaseong, Pyeongtaek, and Osan), Korea Water Resources Corporation, and Korea Environment Institute to activate wastewater reuse.

The signing ceremony was held at Samsung Electronics' semiconductor Hwaseong campus with attendance by Environment Minister Han Hwa-jin, Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Economy Yeom Tae-young, Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun, Yongin Mayor Lee Sang-il, Hwaseong Mayor Jeong Myeong-geun, Pyeongtaek Mayor Jeong Jang-seon, Osan Mayor Lee Gwon-jae, Korea Water Resources Corporation President Park Jae-hyun, Korea Environment Institute Chairman Ahn Byung-ok, and Samsung Electronics CEO and President Kyung Kyeun-hyun.

With the expansion of semiconductor production lines, the industrial water required at Samsung Electronics' semiconductor business sites is projected to more than double by 2030 compared to current levels.

Through the 'New Environmental Management Strategy' announced last September, Samsung Electronics announced the goal of achieving 'zero growth in water intake at domestic semiconductor business sites by 2030,' and has been reviewing various measures to stably secure industrial water without increasing water intake.

In accordance with this agreement, effluent from public wastewater treatment plants in Suwon, Yongin, Hwaseong, and Osan will be treated to the level of industrial water required at semiconductor business sites and will be supplied to Samsung Electronics' Giheung, Hwaseong, and Pyeongtaek business sites.

The effluent supplied to each business site will be processed into ultra-pure water through additional processes and is scheduled to be used in semiconductor manufacturing.

Through this agreement, the volume of water Samsung Electronics can be supplied is expected to reach approximately 474,000 tons per day and 173 million tons annually.

By expanding semiconductor production lines while reusing effluent from public wastewater treatment plants without additionally withdrawing industrial water from nature, it is expected to contribute to addressing the nation's water shortage problem.

Additionally, Samsung Electronics semiconductor will continue to pursue various efforts including optimization of water usage through replacement of aging equipment, improvement of manufacturing processes, and development of new technologies, as well as diverse initiatives to reduce water intake to suppress growth in water withdrawal.

Kyung Kyeun-hyun, CEO and Representative of Samsung Electronics' DS Division, stated, "Using reclaimed wastewater in the semiconductor industry, which requires ultra-pure water, represents a significant paradigm shift," and added, "We will develop innovative water reuse technologies and work together with the government and local governments to conserve water resources."