1. Environmentally Friendly Manufacturing (4)<br>Lowering Environmental Impact (Air, Water, Noise, Odors, Soil) || KOBE STEEL, LTD.

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Lowering Environmental Impact (Air, Water, Noise, Odors, Soil)


		Environmental Management Sustainability Report 2007

1. Environmentally Friendly Manufacturing (4)
Lowering Environmental Impact (Air, Water, Noise, Odors, Soil)

Based on an analysis of all types of environmental impact, efforts have been focused on lowering all the environmental impact brought about by production activities, by upgrading production processes and replacing old equipment with state-of-the-art facilities. Group companies will continue in this effort to reduce environmental impact by updating their production processes, and enhancing the performance of all types of equipment designed to prevent pollution.

(Emission data of production facilities is in the section entitled "Emission Data of Production Facilities.")

Measures Combating Atmospheric Pollution


	Plants and Works

Sulfur oxides (SOx) generated in production processes have been cut by reducing fuel consumption to save energy and using low sulfur fuels, as well as desulfurization treatment for emissions. At steel works, emissions have been reduced by using iron ore with low sulfur content, and natural gas for fuel, and by installing desulfurization equipment to clean gases emitted by coke ovens and boilers. Emissions of nitric oxides (NOx) are also being reduced with the introduction of low NOx fuel technology and measures to save energy.

In 2006 facilities were replaced or upgraded to combat atmospheric pollution, and other steps such as continuous recording of environmental data and improved operations monitoring were introduced to prevent any possibility of emissions deviating from standards. Further measures included fitting low NOx burners, and adding more desulfurization and denitration equipment.

Various measures have been implemented to control dust. At the Kakogawa Works dust-control nets have been newly installed, the recycling zone has been partitioned off, belt conveyers for raw materials and incinerator ash storage areas have been sealed, and dust collecting facilities and water sprinklers fitted with increased capacity.


	Rates of Sulfur Oxide Emission


	Rates of Nitric Oxide Emission

*Data for 1990, 1995, 2000 are aggregates of Kakogawa and Kobe Works


	Environmental Activities in Group Companies

Shinko Kobe Power Inc. has a generation capacity 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.


	Shinko Kobe Power Inc.

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 desulfurizer

Exhaust denitration equipment

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.

For example, a water recycling system used at the steelworks purifies wastewater from the various production processes and other effluent through a treatment system that combines coagulating sedimentation, sand filtration, membrane treatment, and biological treatment, for reuse on site. At the Kakogawa Works about 97% of the water is recycled.

At the Welding Company's Saijo Plant, 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

Wastewater Reduction Efforts at Kakogawa Works

Activated sludge treatment facility


	Comprehensive Wastewater Treatment System at Shinko Kobe Power Inc.

Comprehensive wastewater treatment system at Shinko Kobe Power Inc.

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 suppressing 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.

Preventing Ground Contamination

Ground contamination is prevented by strict observance of rules set down in legislation and by proper controls of hazardous materials at all plants and works. At times of land transactions and when required at plants or works, voluntary soil surveys are carried out in line with the Soil Contamination Control Law.

During renovation work of a former metal plating facility at the Takasago Works, traces of soil contamination were discovered and a voluntary survey was carried out. On the basis of its results the affected soil was removed and groundwater was pumped up, treated and discharged outside the facility to prevent any leakage of the pollution outside the site.

At the Moka Plant a voluntary survey investigated a leak of hexavalent chrome into the groundwater, and revealed that at certain locations groundwater was contaminated with hexavalent chrome to a maximum of 1.7 times the permissible environmental standard. There was no evidence of contamination outside the plant. Measures to prevent leakage outside the plant by pumping up and treating the groundwater are already in place and will be continued.