Nippon Steel’s Kamaishi Works to Resume Full Capacity Operation

Nippon Steel’s Kamaishi works repaired damage by the major earthquake 4 months ago to resume full capacity operation. The works increases the operation rate to meet recovering demand for automobile. The works resumed full capacity operation at the thermal power plant in the month while the works resumes coal acceptance at the own berth with unloader in September. The works repairs and resumes wire rod shipping berth and crane by March 2012. The works tries to contribute to the rebuilding activity and serve automobile industry when the supply chain recovers in northeast Japan while the works tries to improve the competitiveness, energy saving, recycling and environmental action under the mid-term plan.

The quake damage at the works represents around half of around 15 billion yen of total damage for the firm. The works tries to minimize the recovery investment by selecting core functions along with efficient construction works.

The works resumed the wire rod mill operation without damage by the quake in a month from the quake. The works can accept billet from Kimitsu works in the month due to repair of crane at the own berth.

The works focuses on automotive high grade products including wire rod for steel code and wire rod for cold heading, which represent around 60% of the total production. The works tries to meet recovering demand for automobile when domestic automakers increase the operation to cover production loss earlier the year.

The works’ port facilities including all weather berth, crane, unloader and conveyer were damaged by the tsunami. The works accepted coal through public port and transport with small vessel with crane and dump car. The works finishes repair of coal conveyer and berth by end of August to resume coal accepting operation in September. The works also finishes repair at berth to resume products shipping operation by March 2012.

The works operates the thermal power plant at full capacity in July to meet demand in the area. The works also resumes coal acceptance for the thermal plant in September after the repair through August. The works also resumes burning operation for woody biomass chip soon.

The works tries to keep improving the competitiveness and technology for wire rod products under the mid-term plan. The works targets 50% of endless rolling rate for the inline welding endless rolling mill.