News Releases / 2010

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  • February 4 , 2010

    Rengo Announces Switch from
    Heavy Fuel Oil to LNG at Takefu Plant

    CO2 Emissions Reduction with Clean Energy

    Rengo Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Kita-ku, Osaka; President & CEO: Kiyoshi Otsubo) announces that its Takefu Plant (Echizen-shi, Fukui Prefecture) is switching from heavy fuel oil as the plant's boiler fuel, which has been used to date, to liquefied natural gas (LNG). In addition to its primary product of cellophane, the Takefu Plant also manufactures functional materials such as coated films, tinted films, viscose-processed paper, porous cellulose beads, and natural anti-bacterial/anti-mold agents.

    The level of social interest in protecting the environment, including preventing global warming, has been rising and corporations are being asked to take further actions to contribute toward these goals. In response, Rengo has switched the fuel used at many of its production facilities throughout Japan from heavy fuel oil to natural gas, which emits less CO2. However, because no piping infrastructure for supplying processed natural gas exists in the area surrounding the Takefu Plant, a decision was made to use LNG instead and install an LNG storage facility onsite. This switch in fuel types is expected to reduce annual CO2 emissions from the Takefu Plant by 4,500 tons, equivalent to 24% of the plant's FY2008 CO2 emissions.

    As part of its CO2 emissions reduction measures, Rengo reduced annual company-wide CO2 emissions in FY2008 by 22.5% compared to the FY1990 level, and has established new goals of a 32% reduction by FY2020 and a 50% reduction by FY2050.

    Based on a philosophy of “Caring about people and the environment,” Rengo is committed to actively implementing environmental initiatives, such as the switching away from usage of heavy fuel, in all of its business activities to help protect the environment.


    LNG-fired boiler equipment at the Takefu Plant

    Overview of LNG-fired boiler equipment at the Takefu Plant

    Equipment name

    LNG storage facility (Capacity: 60 kL x 3 tanks)

    Gas-fired once-through boiler (Evaporation rate: 5 t/hr x 3 units)

    Capital investment ¥550 million

    Annual CO2 emissions

    reduction

    Approx. 4,500 tons

    Operation start February 2010
    Gas-fired once-through boiler
    Gas-fired once-through boiler