South Korea: GS Caltex showcases drone fuel delivery service

The company will lead a project commissioned by the government to commercialize the drone-based service for oil companies and other industries in the near future.

GS Caltex, a major oil company and fuel retail chain in South Korea, showcased an innovative method for fuel service: drone-based delivery system. The demonstration was held in a government-hosted event organised to show the potential of drones in several industries, such as service stations.

The firm will lead a group of companies selected by the Korean administration to commercialize the service and to further develop technology and infrastructure for parcel delivery services by drones. In a statement published by Aju Business Daily, the company specified that the demonstration consisted of a drone delivering kerosene from a gas station to a park near the fair, with a distance of about one kilometer away.

The system will also support tankers and port operators in dynamizing cargo operations. As the company stated, the showcase was designed with fuel tests that take place when tankers arrive at the port in mind. Currently, an inspector needs to use a small boat to pick up a sample and transport it for testing in order to check if it meets government standards and then allow the tanker to dock and unload its cargo, as the news site states. Drone-based service would help in saving time and costs by speeding up the process and improving security for workers.

GS Caltex aims to reconceptualize the service station model by transforming it into an integrated refueling center for internal combustion cars, electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The company has set out plans to develop smaller forecourts that will offer storage spaces for parcel delivery workers as well as chargers for electric trucks, for each one to have its own drone control tower to manage short-distance deliveries.

According to the South Korea Office of Civil Aviation, commercial use of drones needs prior registration in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Its regulations include flying below 150 meters, staying in line of sight, keeping 9.3 kilometers away from airports and prohibition to fly at night and flying over crowds. However, most of Seoul airspace is prohibited for flying drones due to its dense population, the Presidential Blue House and several military facilities distributed within the city.