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| March 5, 2008 |
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A Partial Lifting of Suspension Order
on Operations of the No. 2 Ethylene Plant of the Kashima Plant |
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| Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation |
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Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Yoshimitsu Kobayashi) has suspended operations of the No. 2 Ethylene Plant of the Kashima Plant (Location: Kamisu-shi, Ibaraki; General manager: Yasuhiro Kajiwara) with the suspension order by the Fire Defense Headquarters of Kashima Southern District, since the fire accident occurred on December 21, 2007. During the suspension period, we have conducted an inspection and repair of the Plant with investigation of the cause and revision of safety measures, under the instructions by the authorities concerned. The inspection and repair have been completed excluding the fire occurred cracking furnace 2F-208 and cracking furnaces significantly affected by the fire, and the Fire Defense Headquarters of Kashima Southern District confirmed safety of the Plant and accepted our safety measures of the Plant. As a result, the suspension order of the Plant has been partially lifted on March 5, 2008. Therefore, we will take every possible safety measures and prepare for restarting operations of the Plant. The details are the following:
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Status of the No. 2 Ethylene Plant
Cracking furnace 2F-201, 2F-202, 2F-203, 2F-204, and 2F-205:
The suspension order has been lifted.
Cracking furnace 2F-206:
The inspection and repair are being conducted under regulatory authorities.
Restart of operation is to be consulted with regulatory authorities.
Cracking furnace 2F-207 and 2F-208:
Restart of operations is not in sight yet. |
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Schedule for restarting operations on cracking furnaces 2F-201-205
Around mid- to end-March |
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Production capacity after restarting operations
Approximately 320,000 tons per year
(Amounts to approximately 67% production capacity compared to that before the fire accident) |
Taking this fire accident seriously, we will make a concerted effort to prevent
a recurrence and restore confidence with thorough safety management in the Mitsubishi
Chemical Group. We also continue to devote ourselves to secure products for our
customers. Finally, we pray for four victims who died in the fire and extend
our condolences and apologies to their families, and also apologize to all concerned
including the neighboring community and customers for the anxiety and inconvenience
caused.
| For further information, please contact |
Public Relations and Investor Relations Department
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation |
| Tel: +81-(0)3-6414-3730 |
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