Gimje City, located in South Korea's Jeollabuk-do province, is initiating a solid fuelization project for cow manure to tackle the long-standing issue of agricultural waste management in the livestock sector. This initiative, developed in collaboration with the Jeonju-Gimje-Wanju Agricultural Cooperative, seeks to recycle manure as an energy resource, reducing economic burdens on farmers and improving water quality in the Saemangeum area. With an investment of 40.9 billion KRW, the facility will be able to process 170 tons of livestock waste per day, aiming to begin construction in the latter half of the year and complete the project by early 2028.

The issue of livestock waste has been identified as a significant challenge in the agricultural sector, contributing to odors and water pollution while also placing economic strains on farming operations. Strengthened environmental regulations, such as the installation of wastewater pollution total control measures, have rendered previous manure treatment methods inadequate. As more than 830,000 tons of livestock manure are produced annually in the Gimje area, but public processing facilities can only handle about 70,000 tons, there is a pressing need for effective solutions that benefit both the environment and farmers.

Gimje City's solid fuelization project symbolizes a transformative approach toward managing livestock manure, shifting its perception from mere waste to an energy resource. Collected manure will be processed at the Gimje Resource Recycling Center, undergoing pre-treatment and moisture control before being converted into environmentally friendly pellets. The resulting solid fuel will be sold to power plants and industrial boilers, replacing coal as a sustainable energy source. This project not only aims to alleviate the manure disposal dilemmas faced by local farmers but also establishes a self-sustaining revenue structure through the sale of the produced solid fuel, enhancing both economic and environmental outcomes for the region.