Press Release

April 17, 2006
  • Environmental Policy

Opinions of the Minister of the Environment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Construction of an Electric Power Facility in TOSOH Corporation's Nanyo Complex

On 17th of April, 2006, the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) submitted the Minister's opinions on the draft environmental impact statement for the proposed construction of an electric power facility of the TOSOH Corporation's Nanyo Complex in Yamaguchi Prefecture to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment Law and the Electric Utility Law.
This project involves the construction of a new coal fired power plant. The MOE commented on the following two issues of this project:,

1. Greenhouse gas (CO2) emission
2. Air Pollutants

In regard to the issue of greenhouse gas emission, the MOE emphasized that the project should:
(1) Use coals that produce the lowest possible emission of CO2 and positively introduce the co-combustion of woody biomass.
(2) Ensure consistency with the Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan by implementing various measures that contribute to CO2 reduction. For example, the facility should limit its supply of electricity and steam to newly built equipment of its own and of affiliated companies in this complex.
(3) Conduct follow-up surveys concerning CO2 emission volume and business establishments to which electricity and steam are supplied.
(4) Make further efforts to reduce CO2 emission and to improve the unit energy consumption of the entire office by giving further consideration to energy saving.

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