Environmental Management Environmental Sustainability Report 2005

Environment-friendly Production (4)

[4] Reduction of Environmental Burdens

Based on the analysis results of various environmental burdens, Kobe Steel has been reducing a wide variety of burdens by improving production processes to more effectively protect the environment; introducing state-of-the-art equipment and refurbishing facilities; and thoroughly implementing self-management. Kobe Steel, including its group companies, is further striving to reduce its impact on the environment by improving its production processes and enhancing the capabilities of pollution control equipment. Air Pollution Prevention Activities at works and plants With respect to SOx (sulfur oxide), energy saving and resource saving have been encouraged, SOx generation has been suppressed, and thorough emission measures have been taken. For example, the steelworks make every possible effort to reduce emissions by using low-sulfur iron ore and city gas, and thoroughly desulfurized coke oven gas and boiler exhaust gas. At Kobe Works, another desulfurizer was added at the No. 2 Boiler. At Kakogawa Works, desulfurizing and dust-collecting capabilities of the exhaust gas treatment equipment at the sintering plant has been improved. With respect to NOx (nitrogen oxide), the reduction of emissions has been promoted by adopting low NOx burners and low NOx combustion technologies, introducing NOx removal equipment, and implementing intensive energy-saving measures to reduce fuel consumption rate. For soot, measures against exhaust gas are taken, such as introducing high-performance dust collectors, to improve dust collecting capability. At Kakogawa Works' sintering plant, exhaust gas treatment capacity has been increased. Also at Takasago Works' electric melting furnace, additional dust collecting equipment was added to reduce dust emission.In order to prevent the scattering of dust, the raw material yards are equipped with remote-controlled water sprays, and each facility is made airtight. To prevent the secondary scattering of dust, sprinklers are used on raw material yards and roads, as well as on cleaning roofs and other high structures. SOx Emissions (parent company only) Nox Emissions(Kakogawa Works and Kobe Works) Reinforced dust collector building Boiler desulfurizer Desulfurizer at sintering furnace Raw material yard with water sprays Sprinkler truck Environmental Activities in Group Companies At Kobelco Logistics, Ltd., equipment for supplying power to anchored ships was installed at Kakogawa and Kobe Works. A total of over 400 coastal vessels use the equipment each month. This contributes to the reduction of NOx and SOx exhausts, because inboard generators, which use heavy oil for fuel, are not used. Also, they do not produce noise and are thereby welcomed by crewmen. Shinko Kobe Power Inc. generates a total of 1.4 million kilowatts of electricity after the second power plant started operation in April 2004. It is an urban power station that coexists in harmony with the community. On this theme, tough environmental conservation measures are taken, including water quality conservation, noise, vibration, and offensive odor prevention, measures against wastes, and environmental harmony, by installing cutting-edge environmental analysis equipment and optimizing the environmental management system through ISO14001. For these environmental measures, about one third of the total construction cost of the power station (about 200 billion yen) was allocated. Furthermore, part of the existing facilities in Kobe Works, such as the raw material yard and sintering plant, were shut down, while the fuel for steelmaking facilities was changed from heavy oil to city gas. These comprehensive environmental measures by Kobe Works have made it possible to keep the impact on the surrounding environment to a minimum. Power supplier Shinko Kobe Power Station Shinko Kobe Power Inc. (JAPANESE) Continuous enclosed coal unloader By enclosing the unloader, dust is prevented from scattering. Coal silo and enclosed belt conveyor Twelve silos that can store 30,000 tons of coal per silo are installed. By enclosed the belt conveyor, the coal is completely enclosed from quay to boiler. State-of-the-art exhaust treatment equipment Electric dust collector Exhaust denitration equipment Exhaust desulfurizer Water Pollution Prevention Kobe Steel reduces the water consumption rate by improving production processes and using recycled water, and at the same time, cleans wastewater by an optimum wastewater treatment system and reduces the impact of water polluting substances such as COD (chemical oxygen demand) and SS (suspended solids) in public water bodies. Kobe Steel uses the water treatment system best suited to the properties of the discharged water from production processes. Other measures are also undertaken to improve water quality. At the Welding Company's Saijo Plant, for example, supplementary water for cooling the production line is recirculated. By improving the water route, the quantity of supplementary water was reduced by half. Also, Shinko Kobe Power Inc. discharges wastewater after thorough cleaning at a comprehensive water treatment plant that provides not only coagulating sedimentation, filtration and neutralization, but also advanced wastewater treatments such as denitrification and COD absorption. Shinko Kobe Power also uses an eco-friendly water-intake/discharge system. Wastewater Reduction Efforts at Kakogawa Works Activated sludge treatment facility Noise Reduction Kobe Steel carries out surveys on how plant noise affects the neighboring areas and reduces the noise of the equipment based on the survey data. In addition, Kobe Steel is implementing a wide variety of noise reduction measures by installing noise-generating equipment such as fans, compressors and crushers within buildings and by installing soundproof walls and vibration proof pads to shield and absorb noise. Sound suppressing equipment for exhaust stack Sound suppression cover for compressor Odor Reduction Odors generated at works and plants are treated using deodorizing equipment. Odor monitoring is implemented at regular intervals and necessary measures are taken accordingly. For example, in fiscal 2004, water-granulating equipment for blast-furnace slag started operating to suppress odor generation in slag aging. Granulated slag equipment