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Material Balance

The Kobe Steel Group is extending its environmental management to take account of the environment in all its diverse business activities. Improving energy efficiency and turning wastes into recycled resources are ongoing activities that form part of this.
Utilization of Energy and Raw Materials by the Kobe Steel Group
Iron & Steel Sector
The Iron and Steel Sector accounts for about 95% of all energy used by Kobe Steel, and consumed 206 PJ in 2007. To maximize efficiency, we take almost all of the byproduct gases generated by different stages of the manufacturing process such as coke oven gas, blast furnace gas, and converter gas and effectively reuse them as fuel for the reheating furnaces at the rolling mills and the in-house power generation plants. We also actively reuse recovered waste heat to generate electricity. As a result of these efforts, approximately 60% of the electricity used in the manufacturing process is generated by byproduct gases and waste-heat recovery.

We also recycle 96% of the other byproducts of the manufacturing process, such as slag, dust and sludge, as raw material for cement, paving material, and other applications.

We will continue working to improve the efficiency of our energy and raw material use and engage in further technical development so that we can continue to manufacture our products while taking proper care of the environment.
Energy and Raw Material Use by the Iron & Steel Sector in fiscal 2007
Energy and Raw Material Use by the Iron & Steel Sector in fiscal 2007
Welding Company
The Welding Company produces welding wire and welding rods using steel wire rod and hoop, solvents and liquid glass as raw materials. In fiscal 2007 at our three plants in Fujisawa, Ibaraki and Saijo we used a total of 150,000 metric tons of raw materials, 40,000 MWh of electricity, and 0.07 PJ of municipal gas of fuel for energy, and manufactured 140,000 metric tons of products. Through this 4,000 metric tons of waste products were generated, of which 78% was recycled.
Energy and Raw Material Use by the Welding Company in Fiscal 2007
INPUT
Raw materials
Wire rod, hoop, solvents, liquid glass, etc. 150,000 metric tons
Energy
  Procured electricity 40,000 MWh
Municipal gas, etc. 0.07 PJ
 
OUTPUT
Products
Welding rods, welding wire, etc. 140,000 metric tons
Waste
  Quantity generated 4,000 metric tons
Recycling rate 78%

Aluminum and Copper Company
The Aluminum and Copper Company uses aluminum and copper ingots, scrap metal and other materials for the production of a wide range of aluminum and copper products. In fiscal 2007 we used 460,000 metric tons of raw materials, 540,000 MWh of electricity, and 4 PJ of municipal gas as energy to produce 430,000 metric tons of products.

From more efficient energy usage, the heat in the emission gases produced in the manufacturing processes was recovered to be used for preheating steam and combustion air used in the plant. Of the byproducts from production processes, 96% was reused. The metal content was recovered for recycling as raw material both in-company and outside, and the remainder was used as cement or roadbed material.
Energy and Raw Material Use by the Aluminum and Copper Company in fiscal 2007
INPUT
Raw materials
Aluminum ingots, copper cathodes, etc. 460,000 metric tons
Energy
  Purchased electricity 540,000 MWh
Municipal gas, etc. 4 PJ
 
OUTPUT
Products
Aluminum and copper products 430,000 metric tons
Waste
  Quantity generated 30,000 metric tons
Recycling rate 96%