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Countermeasures for Air Emission Problem at Steelworks

Kobe Steel took extremely seriously the emissions violation at the company's steelworks that was uncovered in May 2006 and has continued to implement a range of measures to deal with the problem. We have now fulfilled all requirements and therefore concluded meetings with Hyogo Prefecture and Kakogawa City to confirm improvements made, and also concluded supplying regular reports to the Chubu Kinki Industrial Safety and Inspection Department, Kinki Branch of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency. In the future we will listen to opinions from people in the local community as we continue to introduce improvements. The main measures implemented during fiscal 2008 are as set out below.

Main Measures Implemented during Fiscal 2008

Of the initial planned measures to control smoke and dust, all were completed with the exception of the introduction of denitrification facilities at the sintering plant which needs more time. As additional measures for fiscal 2009 we aim to advance and complete planned measures to reduce dust from car parks and other unsurfaced ground and control rainwater in the stockyards.

Main Countermeasures Completed (Kakogawa Works)

Desulfurization facility at No.6 boiler of power plant	Completed April 2008
Low nitrogen oxide burners fitted in boilers	Completed April 2009
Combustion control of power plant boilers automated	Completed April 2009
Increased water spraying facilities for slag at crushing facility	Completed March 2009

Measures to Prevent Dust Generation at Crushing Facility

At the Kakogawa Works, as a result of slag moist treatment tests using water cooling, it was found that dust generation itself could be controlled very significantly. Controlling dust generation is far more effective in preventing dust reaching local communities, and so facilities were expanded so that water cooling could be extended to all slag before it was discharged.

Water spraying at crushing facility

Dust Control Measures

In order to reduce the amount of dust particles falling on the area surrounding the Kakogawa Works, measures are being taken that include adding further dust-collecting equipment, improving the sealing of locations generating dust, and increasing water spraying. Dust-control netting 25 m in height has been installed for a distance of 2.2 km around the site boundary, and 20 m high windbreak netting has been installed on the south side of the coal and iron ore stockyards, for distances of about 850 m and 600 m respectively.

Voluntary control targets for steelworks-generated dust (as predicted resulting from environmental control measures) of less than 3.0 metric tons per square kilometer per month were set for three locations: Kakogawa Shinko Building, Befu Elementary School and Onoe Elementary School and monitoring began in April 2008. However the targets were exceeded in July 2008. This was because the first half of July 2008 saw very little rainfall and so water spraying was increased. But the increased quantity of water mixed with the iron ore caused a blockage in the ore supply equipment, fluctuations occurred in the quantities of ore supplied, leading to irregularities in the sintering furnace. This meant that more dust than usual was created in the subsequent transfer and cooling processes.

Through the various dust control measures implemented thus far and other measures added after understanding the reason for missing the July target (adjusting levels of water spraying, preventing fluctuations in supply of raw material, increasing patrols), voluntary control targets have been consistently met since the second half of July 2008. We have further installed a continuous dust monitoring system at six locations at the Kakogawa Works for early detection of irregular dust levels.

We will continue to maintain the facilities and study the need for additional measures in the future.

Steelworks dust levels monitored at Kakogawa Shinko Building

Steelworks dust level: Total quantity of insoluble dust particles recorded at set location minus the quantity of naturally-occurring insoluble dust particles (average of five recorded levels at city locations distant from steelworks)

Dust control and windbreak netting

Continuous dust monitoring system

Communication with the local community

To receive environment-related inquiries, a toll-free telephone service has been set up at the Kakogawa Works and Kobe Works. The numbers of calls received per month and their nature are shown in the graph. We are striving to respond with appropriate measures to the comments we receive, and to explain the current status of all environmental measures to gain the public's understanding.

Meetings with the local community

In order to gain the local community's understanding of our measures to safeguard the environment, on-site meetings have been arranged at the Kakogawa and Kobe works, and meetings have also been held with local government bodies. A meeting held at the Kakogawa Works on 25 May 2008 was attended by 51 people. The progress on countermeasures was explained, and attendees were able to see for themselves the relevant facilities being installed.

Numbers of toll-free telephone calls