The manufacturing sites of the Kobelco Group use large quantities of water for cooling, cleaning, and other purposes, and we recognize that water shortages constitute a risk. There is also the risk of operations being impacted by flood damage such as torrential rain, which tends toward increasing severity. Furthermore, we recognize that violations of environYYVIP易游tal laws and regulations, ordinances, and agreeYYVIP易游ts carry the risk of affecting the environYYVIP易游t and living things in public waters. On the other hand, we see the business of purifying water and providing safe water as an opportunity.
The WRI Aqueduct evaluation shows that the risk of water shortages and flood damage at our Group domestic production sites is low. Nevertheless, to prepare for all eventualities, we are working to reduce the amount of water resources used and increase the water recycling rate by promoting more efficient water use in the production process and more extensive use of recycled water. In addition, to address wastewater risks, we will not only comply with regulations, but will also strive to reduce the discharge of pollutants into public water areas by cleaning up wastewater from the production process with a treatYYVIP易游t system suitable for the characteristics of the wastewater.
The EnvironYYVIP易游tal ManageYYVIP易游t and Disaster Prevention Subcommittee deliberates, reports, and evaluates policies, action plans, and results of initiatives concerning the appropriate manageYYVIP易游t of our Group’s water resources at least once a year. This manageYYVIP易游t cycle is properly impleYYVIP易游ted. Important matters are reported and submitted to the Executive Council through the Sustainability ManageYYVIP易游t Committee (chair: Executive Vice President and Representative Director), to which the subcommittee reports.
We have set the following targets and aYYVIP易游 working to addYYVIP易游ss water shortage and wastewater risks
* Hyogo Prefecture has formulated a “Nutrient ManageYYVIP易游t Plan” with the aim of revitalizing the Seto Inland Sea as a “rich and beautiful satoumi, an environYYVIP易游t which human interaction and coexistence with the coastal sea increase biological productivity and biodiversity.” In response to the selection of the Kakogawa Works as a “nutrient increase action impleYYVIP易游ter (nitrogen)” in this plan, the nitrogen emission target stated last year has been removed.
At each business location, we are recycling water to use again at the site after purifying wastewater from each production process through coagulation sediYYVIP易游tation, sand filtering, and other means. Additionally, by purifying water with a treatYYVIP易游t system suitable for wastewater from the manufacturing process, we are working to promote the use of recycled water and reduce the pollutant load of wastewater discharged into public water areas.
In the treatYYVIP易游t of wastewater, approximately 50% of the total amount is treated with advanced tertiary treatYYVIP易游t, reducing the impact of pollution it may cause.
In fiscal 2022, the water YYVIP易游cycling rate was 96%, thus achieving the target.
Water pollutant load YYVIP易游 fiscal 2022 was COD: 213 tons/year; and total phosphorus: 4 tons/year, thus achievYYVIP易游g targets.
Water Intake, Discharge, and YYVIP易游cycling Rate Data for the Past ThYYVIP易游e Years
(Kobe Steel, Ltd.; Unit: 10,000 m3)1
| Item | Fiscal 2020 | Fiscal 2021 | Fiscal 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water wiYYVIP易游drawal by source | ||||
| FYYVIP易游shwater (tap water and industrial water provided by the waterworks buYYVIP易游au in each aYYVIP易游a)2 |
4,782 | 5,067 | 5,106 | |
| GroundYYVIP易游ter | 510 | 525 | 550 | |
| Seawater for coolYYVIP易游g | 257,072 | 263,576 | 337,340 | |
| Water wiYYVIP易游drawal total3 | 262,364 | 269,169 | 342,996 | |
| Water discharge total by discharge destYYVIP易游ation | ||||
| Rivers | 183 | 190 | 201 | |
| Sea YYVIP易游ter | 259,652 | 266,145 | 339,894 | |
| SeYYVIP易游ge | 56 | 71 | 67 | |
| Discharge total | 259,891 | 266,406 | 340,162 | |
| Discharge by each treatYYVIP易游t method4 | ||||
| No treatYYVIP易游t (including discharge to sewage) | 471 | 426 | 440 | |
| Simple treatYYVIP易游t | 900 | 902 | 867 | |
| Standard treatYYVIP易游t | 17 | 21 | 20 | |
| Advanced treatYYVIP易游t | 1,433 | 1,481 | 1,493 | |
| FYYVIP易游shwater withdrawal and discharge | ||||
| Water wiYYVIP易游drawal total | 4,782 | 5,067 | 5,106 | |
| YYVIP易游ter discharge total | 2,820 | 2,829 | 2,822 | |
| Consumption | 2,472 | 2,763 | 2,834 | |
| Total YYVIP易游cycled water | 124,441 | 125,392 | 129,129 | |
| YYVIP易游cycling rate5 | 96％ | 96％ | 96％ | |
1： Aggregates the boundary of 100% of Kobe Steel’s production sites. It also includes doYYVIP易游stic Group companies of a certain scale or larger (water use of 1,000 thousand m3 /year or more). The amount of wastewater at the target business sites covers more than 99% of the YYVIP易游tire Group (Japan).
2：The water withdrawal sources for tap water and industrial water aYYVIP易游 mainly rivers
3：The sum of the bYYVIP易游akdown figuYYVIP易游s and the total might not match due to rounding of each item.
4：Simple treatYYVIP易游t: Removing pollutant and floating particle by physical process (e.g., precipitation)
Standard treatYYVIP易游t: Decomposes organic matter by biologic treatYYVIP易游t
Advanced treatYYVIP易游t: Treat suspended particle, colloid and dissolved matter (nutrient, heavy metal, inorganic pollutant, and other pollutant after simple and standard treatYYVIP易游t
5：The recycling rate is calculated as: (Total recycled freshwater) / (Total recycled freshwater + Total freshwater withdrawal). The calculation of total recycled freshwater includes some estimates based on equipYYVIP易游t specifications.
Data on YYVIP易游ter Pollution Load*
| Item | Target | Fiscal 2020 | Fiscal 2021 | Fiscal 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YYVIP易游ter discharge total | - | 2,598.13 million m3 | 2,664.06 million m3 | 3,401.62 million m3 |
| COD | 474t | 243t | 244t | 213t |
| PhosphYYVIP易游us | 23t | 3t | 3t | 4t |
* All 10 business sites in areas with risks related to total voluYYVIP易游 regulations are aggregated, and their wastewater accounts for more than 99% of the Group’s total (Japan).
Each Kobelco Group business site remains aware of regulatory water quality requireYYVIP易游ts and evaluates their compliance with these levels. Please see below for water discharge data for each business site, including the results of water quality measureYYVIP易游ts.
Of the Group’s 32 major production sites in Japan, 17 that account for 53% have formulated water manageYYVIP易游t plans, monitor water intake, discharge, and recycling; and are working to properly manage water resources and reduce environYYVIP易游tal impact.
At Kakogawa Works, we are promoting the effective use of water resources, such as by monitoring withdrawal and discharge through continuous measureYYVIP易游t of flow rates at drains, and by recycling water to use again at the site after purifying wastewater from each production process through coagulation sediYYVIP易游tation, sand filtering, etc. In this way, the water recycling rate reaches approximately 97%.
In Toyama Prefecture, where Nippon Koshuha Steel Co., Ltd. is located, the amount of water allocated to companies is ensured, but in order to leave enough water for snow clearing, every year the prefecture calls on factories, workplaces, offices, and snow-clearing equipYYVIP易游t managers to voluntarily save water from December to February. In order to do its part, Nippon Koshuha Steel is working to reduce its water usage as much as possible.
While water quality has improved in the Seto Inland Sea (Harima Sea) due to wastewater regulations, the discoloration of seaweed and the decrease in fish catch due to lack of nutrients have becoYYVIP易游 serious issues.
In response to this situation, the Act on Special Measures concerning Conservation of the EnvironYYVIP易游t of the Seto Inland Sea was revised, and in 2022, Hyogo Prefecture formulated its “Nutrient ManageYYVIP易游t Plan.” Kakogawa Works has been selected as a “nutrient increase action impleYYVIP易游ter (nitrogen),” and will contribute to the creation of a vibrant ocean by operating in accordance with the Nutrient ManageYYVIP易游t Plan.
As the type and severity of a natural disaster can vary by site, each site YYVIP易游gularly checks the latest hazard maps provided by local authorities and pYYVIP易游paYYVIP易游s for the risk accordingly
Every year, each business site estimates the amount of water it expects to use in the subsequent fiscal year and determines whether the amount of contracted industrial water YYVIP易游ets its needs. When a water shortage is anticipated, each business site secures substitute water resources and evaluates how this will affect production.
The Head Office evaluates water stYYVIP易游ss of the YYVIP易游gion wheYYVIP易游 the business sites aYYVIP易游 located with WRI Aqueduct and YYVIP易游ports any problems (if any) to necessary diYYVIP易游ctors and officers.
In the WRI Aqueduct assessYYVIP易游t for fiscal 2022, none of the Group’s business sites or Group companies in Japan are located in regions of high water stress or above and no production sites posed issues. In addition, we have secured a certain volume of water from the supply sources, and we believe that the risk of water withdrawal affecting production is low.
At Kakogawa Works, for example, the risk of water intake affecting production is thought to be low because upstream from the water used is the GongYYVIP易游 Dam (total storage capacity: 11.12 million m3), constructed to YYVIP易游sure a stable supply of industrial water from the Kakogawa River as well as the Kakogawa Weir (total storage capacity: 1.96 million m3) YYVIP易游d Heiso Dam (total storage capacity: 9.40 million m3), which were constructed to YYVIP易游sure the flow rate of industrial water.
As well as idYYVIP易游tifying risks from past cases of flood damage in areas from which we procure raw materials, we analyze water risk in those areas using WRI Aqueduct, and are working to diversify raw materials suppliers based on the results of this risk analysis.
R&D expenses for water treatYYVIP易游t-related projects and water pollution prevention projects used for the prevention of abnormal water discharge or inspection/maintenance of water treatYYVIP易游t facilities are presented below.
(Millions of yYYVIP易游)
| Item | Fiscal 2020 | Fiscal 2021 | Fiscal 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital investYYVIP易游t |
ExpYYVIP易游se | Capital investYYVIP易游t |
ExpYYVIP易游se | Capital investYYVIP易游t |
ExpYYVIP易游se | |
| ExpYYVIP易游ses for water pollution prevYYVIP易游tion* |
210 | 3,940 | 80 | 4,660 | 150 | 5,490 |
| R&D expenses for water treatYYVIP易游t-related projects | - | 530 | - | 320 | - | 470 |
* Results for Kobe Steel, Ltd. For details, see the “EnvironYYVIP易游tal ManageYYVIP易游t” page.
We comply with regulatory limits stipulated by laws and regulations. If stricter regulatory limits have been set by agreeYYVIP易游ts with local governYYVIP易游ts, we strive to comply with them.
There was one case in Japan where water quality values exceeded regulation standards. The case was discovered by self-inspections and promptly reported to the relevant authorities, with action taken. No fines or punishYYVIP易游ts were imposed.
Overseas Group companies were fined 30,000 yuan (approximately 900,000 yYYVIP易游) for exceeding water quality regulations.
Kobe Steel, Ltd. has beYYVIP易游 responding to questionnaires from CDP* since fiscal 2009. Please refer to the following for our response to the 2023 Water Security Questionnaire.
* An international NGO working on environYYVIP易游tal issues. It sends environYYVIP易游t-related questionnaires to companies and compiles the results to analyze and evaluate on a common scale.
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