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 96% of all energy used by Kobe Steel, and consumed 199 PJ in 2008. 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 50% 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. Utilization of Energy and Raw Materials by the Iron & Steel Sector in Fiscal 2008 Welding Company The Welding Company produces welding wires and welding electrodes using steel wire rod and hoop, flux and liquid glass as raw materials. In fiscal 2008 at our three plants in Fujisawa, Ibaraki and Saijo we used a total of 140,000 metric tons of raw materials, 40,000 MWh of electricity, and 0.07 PJ of municipal gas for energy, and manufactured 130,000 metric tons of products. Through this, 4,000 metric tons of waste were generated, of which 79% was recycled. Energy and Raw Material Use by the Welding Company in Fiscal 2008 INPUT Raw materials Wire rod, hoop, flux, liquid glass, etc. 140,000 metric tons Energy   Procured electricity 40,000 MWh Municipal gas, etc. 0.07 PJ   OUTPUT Products Welding electrodes, welding wires, etc. 130,000 metric tons Waste   Quantity generated 4,000 metric tons Recycling rate 79% 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 2008 we used 380,000 metric tons of raw materials, 460,000 MWh of electricity, and 4 PJ of municipal gas as energy to produce 360,000 metric tons of products. From more efficient energy usage, the heat in the emission gases produced in the manufacturing processes was recovered and used for preheating steam and combustion air used in the plant. Of the byproducts from production processes, 95% was reused. The metal content was recovered for recycling as raw material for both in-company and outside use, and the remainder was used as cement or roadbed material. Energy and Raw Material Use by the Aluminum and Copper Company in fiscal 2008 INPUT Raw materials Aluminum ingots, copper ingots, etc. 380,000 metric tons Energy   Purchased electricity 460,000 MWh Municipal gas, etc. 4 PJ   OUTPUT Products Aluminum and copper products 360,000 metric tons Waste   Quantity generated 30,000 metric tons Recycling rate 95%