* Kobe Steel has an extensive record in supplying solid waste treatment plants. In building a recycling society, Kobe Steel has been expanding its technologies in biomass and other waste utilization technologies, as non-incineration processes are easy on the environment.

Government policies on biomass
* Under the government's Biomass Nippon Strategy, by 2010 the aim is to utilize over 80% of the waste biomass and over 25% of the unused biomass.

* In the government's Outline for Promotion of Efforts to Prevent Global Warming, the aim by 2010 is to increase the amount of electricity generated from biomass from 80,000 kW in 1999 to 330,000 kW.

Kobe Steel's involvement in biomass
* Kobe Steel offers a variety of biomass utilization technologies. The company also conducts R&D work in this area.

* Under a cooperation arrangement with Carbona of Finland, Kobe Steel is able to market in Japan biomass gasification power plants that use Carbona's well regarded gasification technology.

* With a broad menu covering unused biomass and waste biomass utilization, Kobe Steel is able to provide environmental solutions for non-incineration treatment.

Outline of Kobe Steel's biomass utilization technologies

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Type of Facility	Biomass
Biomass gasification power plant	Wood chips, forest residue, sawmill residue, demolition wood
Wet methane fermentation plant	Food waste, household waste
Dry methane fermentation plant	Pruned branches, food waste
Sludge digestion & reduction plant	Sewage sludge and other organic sludges
Gas engine cogeneration using biogas	Sewage sludge and other organic sludges, food waste