Japan Nonferrous Metal Industry Sets Voluntary Aims against Global Warming

Industrial Structure Council of Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry (METI) held a working group meeting for environmental activities in Japanese chemical and nonferrous metal industries on 20 October. The council verified and evaluated the industries’ voluntary action plans against global warming.

Japan Aluminium Association presented the voluntary target to improve specific energy consumption by 11% in fiscal 2010 (Apr10-Mar11) compared with fiscal 1995. The improvement will be evaluated at an annual average rate during F2008-2012. The association raised the improvement target by 1 percentage point compared with the present aim set in F2007, though specific energy consumption is expected to become worse due to output increase of automotive aluminium plates.

Japanese Electric Wire & Cable Makers’ Association explained the voluntary plan to cut energy consumption at domestic copper and aluminium wire and cable plants by 27% in F2010 compared with F1990, at an annual average rate for F2008-2012. The industry aims to decrease specific energy consumption in optical fiber production by 78% toward F2010. The figure was severed by 1 point from the previous target set in F2007.

Japan Copper & Brass Association offered its voluntary action plan to cut specific energy consumption in productive activities by 9.05% toward F2010 compared with F1995, at an annual average rate for F2008-2012. The association raised the target figure from previous 8.6% set in F2006.