CIMAC president: ICE technology ‘irreplaceable’ in move to decarbonization

The theme of this year’s CIMAC Congress is “Meeting the future of combustion engines”—but how long a future will it be?

Skeptics of internal combustion engines who argue that moving to a decarbonized future means moving away from ICE technology don’t understand the flexibility that combustion engines are capable of. At least that’s the position of Donghan Jin, president of CIMAC’s Board.

Jin Donghan

Internal combustion engine technology “still plays an irreplaceable role, Jin said during remarks on the first day of the CIMAC Congress. The technology “will still dominate for a long, long time to come.”

Jin, who is also president of Tianjin University, also touched on the history of CIMAC. The nonprofit organization, which represents the global large engine community, usually holds CIMAC World Congress and the accompanying exhibition every three years. But due to COVID-19, the congress had to be postponed from 2022 to 2023.

“All things come to those who wait,” Jin said.

South Korea hosts the 30th edition of the Congress, which was first held in 1951. This is the fifth time the event has been held in Asia, but the first time in South Korea. The country and its important shipbuilding industry were among the reasons the nation was chosen, Jin said.

He noted that South Korea is the largest producer of marine engines in the world. He also said that 43% of the technical papers being presented at CIMAC came from Asia—a record high percentage.