By Kim Yoo-chul

General Electric, a top-tier solutions provider has signed an agreement with Korean steel giant POSCO. GE will provide advanced zero liquid discharge (ZLD) technology to POSCO’s steel plant in Maharashtra, India.

ZLD means no liquid effluent is released. POSCO is planning to produce steel using the GE technology from the second quarter of 2013.

This is the first time for GE to sell its technology to a steel-producing company, according to the American firm in a statement, Thursday.

POSCO has maintained a strategic partnership with GE over the last few years and the two companies are partners in various mutual projects.

In 2009, GE struck a deal with the Korean steelmaker to provide its electrodialysis reversal (EDR) technology to POSCO via its affiliate POSCO Engineering.

EDR is an electrochemical separation process that removes ions and other charged species from water and other fluids.