Responding to the Great East Japan Earthquake
Under the supervision of the President, Mitsui Chemicals set up an emergency headquarters immediately after the earthquake and set about ascertaining the impact on the Mitsui Chemicals Group, so as to quickly determine and implement response and support measures.
The following section outlines the impact on the Mitsui Chemicals Group and levels of support for the affected area as of June 30, 2011.
1. Impact on production activities
Although we suspended some facilities at a number of works immediately after the earthquake, we quickly managed to get them back up and running again with the exception of the Kashima Works*, which is located in an industrial complex that was damaged by the tsunami.
We were also concerned that we would be unable to continue production of certain products, as a result of suppliers suspending operations and difficulties obtaining raw materials due to disruption to logistics services. We have nonetheless managed to resolve all such operational issues to date.
*Polyurethane product manufacturing facility in Kamisu, Ibaraki prefecture. Operations restarted at the end of June, after scheduled routine shutdown for maintenance.
2. Support for the affected area
Providing relief supplies
- We routinely stockpile Mitsui Chemicals products in dedicated warehouses at our works, as a source of relief supplies in case of an emergency. Using those supplies, we sent a range of materials (see below) to evacuation shelters in Kesennuma (Miyagi prefecture) during the period from five days after the earthquake until the end of March, in partnership with NGO workers on the ground.
- Polyurethane mattresses (to provide cushioning on the floor and keep out the cold)
- Waterproof tarps (to keep water out and provide protection)
- Food wrapping film (to cover dishes so they don't need to be washed, and to cover up injuries in an emergency)
- Plastic water tanks (to store drinking water and transport water)
- Basic biodegradable dishes
Loading relief supplies for the affected area
- We have been providing relief supplies in line with needs in the affected area since then, including sending polyurethane mattresses to the cities of Kamaishi and Tono in Iwate prefecture in May.
Donations
- We donated ¥100 million to people in the affected area via the Central Community Chest of Japan. We also sent donations totaling over ¥70 million from our affiliates around the world and over ¥20 million from Group employees.
Additional support
- As there was a shortage of fire engines after the earthquake, we loaned one of the large chemical fire engines that we use at our Iwakuni-Ohtake Works (Yamaguchi prefecture) to JX Nippon Oil & Energy for use at its Sendai Refinery.
- We are also offering additional social activity leave to employees engaging in volunteer activities (up to a maximum of 10 days a year for employees taking part in disaster relief activities).
3. Dealing with power shortages
Mitsui Chemicals is implementing the following measures at major works and facilities serviced by Tokyo Electric Power and Tohoku Electric Power in an effort to achieve our overall power-saving target of 15%.
| Ichihara Works (Chiba prefecture) |
Operating in-house generation facilities at full capacity in order to reduce consumption of purchased electricity to zero Upgrading facilities and supplying Tokyo Electric Power with approximately 10,000 kilowatts |
|---|---|
| Kashima Works (Ibaraki prefecture) |
Exclusively using electricity generated by communal onsite generation facilities (zero purchased electricity) |
| Head Office (Tokyo) |
Reducing power consumption by approximately 20% compared to fiscal 2011 through measures such as reducing lighting and adjusting air conditioning |
| Other works | Suspending selected equipment, operating only on holidays and at night, reducing lighting, etc. |
