SDK Group to Found New Liquefied CO2 Gas Plant in Oita Petrochemical Complex
31 Août 2017 - 04:00AM
JCN Newswire (English)
Showa Denko Gas Products Co., Ltd. (SGP), a consolidated
subsidiary of Showa Denko ("SDK"; TSE:4004) headquartered in
Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, has decided to found a new
plant to produce liquefied carbon dioxide (CO2) gas in Showa
Denko's Oita Petrochemical Complex located in Oita City, Oita
Prefecture. SDK and SGP plan to make the new plant utilize stable
CO2 gas sources in the chemical plant of the Complex. The new plant
is scheduled to be completed and start operation in August 2018,
and will have annual production capacity of 15,000 tons. Foundation
of the new plant will make SGP's liquefied CO2 gas production
system to have two production bases in Kyushu region.
CO2 gas and dry ice (solidified CO2) are used in many fields
including beverage, food, and other manufacturing industries.
Liquefied CO2 gas is made of CO2 gas generated as a by-product of
oil-refining, steel-making and ammonia production processes.
However, the scaling back of oil-refining and ammonia production
processes in Japan has been resulting in reduction in sources of
raw CO2 gas to produce liquefied CO2 gas. Thus a tight
supply-demand situation for liquefied CO2 gas and dry ice is
chronic.
The Showa Denko Group produces and provides liquefied CO2 gas and
dry ice at many production bases including Kawasaki Plant, which
functions as the main base. To solve tight supply-demand situation
and regional supply-demand imbalances concerning liquefied CO2 gas
and dry ice, and to maintain stable supply of these products to our
customers throughout the country, the Showa Denko Group has been
increasing production of them at Kawasaki Plant, supplying them
through long distance transportation, and importing dry ice even in
off-peak seasons other than summer until now. However, substantial
rises in transportation and raw material costs are problems to be
solved as soon as possible.
Since further reduction in sources of raw CO2 gas is foreseen, the
supply-demand situation for liquefied CO2 gas and dry ice is
expected to be even tighter in the future. To cope with these
problems and maintain stable supply of liquefied CO2 gas and dry
ice to our customers in Kyushu, Chugoku, and Shikoku regions, SDK
and SGP decided to found the new base to produce liquefied CO2 gas
in the Showa Denko Group's Oita Petrochemical Complex. Taking
advantage of the strengthened supply system, SDK and SGP will cope
with changes in the supply-demand balances of liquefied CO2 gas and
dry ice in a flexible and timely manner, while having due regard to
further expansion of the Group's capacity to produce these products
in the future.
In our ongoing medium-term business plan, "Project 2020+," we
position our industrial gases business including CO2 gas and dry
ice business as "Base-shaping" business. The Showa Denko Group will
further strengthen the basis of our industrial gases business
through various measures including development of new uses in the
fields of foods, agriculture, and civil engineering.
About Showa Denko K.K.
Showa Denko K.K. ("SDK"; TSE:4004, US:SHWDF) is a major
manufacturer and marketer of chemical products serving a wide range
of fields ranging from heavy industry to the electronic and
computer industries. The Petrochemicals Sector provides cracker
products such as ethylene and propylene, the Chemicals Sector
provides industrial and high-performance gases and chemicals and
high-purity gases and chemicals for the semiconductor industry, and
the Inorganics Sector provides ceramics products such as alumina,
abrasive, refractory and graphite electrodes and fine carbon
products. Today, the Aluminum Sector provides aluminum materials
and high-value-added fabricated aluminum, the Electronics Sector
provides HD media, compound semiconductors such as ultra
high-bright LEDs and rare earth magnetic alloys, and the Advanced
Battery Materials Department (ABM) provides lithium-ion battery
components. For more information, please visit
www.sdk.co.jp/english/.
Source: Showa Denko K.K.
Contact:
Public Relations Office
Phone: 81-3-5470-3235
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