Dowa Group to Bring Zinc Dust Recycling Plant into Full Operation This Summer

Dowa Metals & Mining, one of Dowa Holdings’ operating companies, will bring its zinc dust recycling plant in Akita, Japan into full operation in summer. The plant was originally scheduled to reach full operation in April but the plant and Dowa Group’s zinc smelting company, the recycled material user, were impacted by Japan Earthquake and the schedule was delayed. The recycling plant fully recovered in May and the current operating rate is 80-90%.

Dowa Metals & Mining constructed the zinc dust recycling plant in Akita City with approximately 5 billion yen capex and started the operation in October 2010. The plant can supply recycled zinc material at 20,000 tonnes per year under full operation to Akita Zinc’s Iijima Refinery, the group company on the neighboring site.

The plant recycles high grade zinc dust generated in steel makers or secondary zinc makers. Dowa Metals & Mining is the first Japanese zinc smelter that adopted the solvent extraction method to extract only zinc by rejecting impurities from the dust. High grade zinc dust is collected from both domestic and overseas plants. However, high grade dust generation is presently very low. Thus the plant operation is sustained by utilization of lower grade dust.

Akita Zinc’s electrolytic zinc output capacity is 200,000 tonnes per year. Dowa Group has 81% shares in Akita Zinc and purchases electrolytic zinc at above 160,000 tonnes per year. Dowa Group can cover 13% of Akita Zinc’s material consumption other than zinc ore when the zinc dust recycling plant enters full operation. Competitiveness of the zinc recycling business can be improved.