Explosion and Fire at Iwakuni-Ohtake Works (#6)
May 10, 2012
Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
Mitsui Chemicals extends heartfelt sympathy to the family of the deceased and sincerest apologies to the injured and those suffering damages to homes and property, local community residents, persons from nearby companies, the authorities, our customers, and all stakeholders affected by the tragic explosion and fire at the Mitsui Chemicals Iwakuni-Ohtake Works on April 22 (2:15am).
The Company updates information issued in its May 2nd news release “Explosion and Fire at Iwakuni-Ohtake Works (#5) as follows.
1. Report on damage
From April 22, approximately 300 Mitsui Chemicals employees visited 8382 families living in adjacent areas of the Iwakuni-Ohtake Works to apologize on behalf of the Company and confirm damages.
Damages are as follows (changes in bold):
Casualties/injured
1 dead, 25 injured (previous report: 21 injured)
| Community residents | 14 injured (previous report: 10) |
| JX Nippon Oil & Energy (adjacent refinery) cooperating company employees | 2 injured |
| Mitsui Chemicals employees | 1 dead, 7 injured (2 seriously) |
| Cooperating company employees | 2 injured |
Buildings/homes
| Community buildings/homes | 992 (previous report 484) |
The Company continues to provide care and respond to needs of persons affected by this accident.
2. Condition of Works
a) Iwakuni area (location of plant accident)
The Company is fully cooperating with the official investigation by police, fire department, and other concerned parties. With permission from the authorities, the Company is removing and clearing out debris and damaged machinery unnecessary to the investigation in preparation for restoration activities. Current priority is on restoring utility supply systems of the Works infrastructure.
Restoration plans will be finalized when appropriate, based on investigation progress and results of survey of plant damage.
b) Ohtake area
Currently, routine operations at undamaged Pellicle, Gas Pipe, and some utility plants of the Ohtake area are in effect. Operations at other plants will commence as restoration progresses.
For products/brands of the Iwakuni area and Ohtake area, please refer to the attachment.
3. Effect on product supplies
For some products in storage at the Works and which have been confirmed to be undamaged, shipments have commenced with permission of the investigation authorities. Shipment of other products will commence when preparations have been completed.
As conditions for products and brands differ, customers will be routinely advised as by the applicable business segment.
[Appendix] List of abbreviations
＊Iwakuni：Yamaguchi Prefecture Ohtake：Hiroshima Prefecture
| Products | Usage | Plant Location | Plant Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resorcinol | adhesive agent for wood and tire | Iwakuni | RS |
| Acetone (By-product of resorcinol) |
solvent、methyl isobutyl ketone raw material | Iwakuni | |
| Cymene | solvent、meta/para-cresol raw material | Iwakuni | CY |
| Meta/Para-cresol | vanish for wire enamel, laminate for PCB | Iwakuni | MPCR |
| Hydroquinone | polymerization retardant, anti-degradation agent for rubber | Iwakuni | HQ |
| Purified terephthalic acid | polyester fiber, polyester film, PET resin | Iwakuni | 3GT |
| PET Resin (polyethylene-terephthalate) |
PET bottle raw material | Iwakuni | 1PET 2PET |
| LUCANT™ (hydrocarbon-basedsynthetic oil) |
additives for lubricants | Iwakuni | LC 2LC |
| TPX™ (methylpentenecopolymer) |
mold releasing film、plastic wrap | Iwakuni | TPX |
| HI-ZEX MILLION™ (ultrahigh molecularweight polyethylene) |
battery separators, high-strength fiber | Iwakuni | HM 2HM |
| Hi-WAX™ EXCEREX™ |
pigment dispersant、processing aid | Iwakuni | WAX NWAX |
| FTR™ | hot-melt adhesives, tackifiers | Iwakuni | PR |
| (Plant fire extinguishing material) | - | Iwakuni | AFR |
| (Plant utility) | - | Iwakuni | boiler |
| Catalyst | catalyst | Ohtake | 1PZ 2PZ MC |
| MIBK (methyl isobutyl ketone) |
solvent of paints, ink | Ohtake | BK |
| ARLEN™ (modified polyamide 6T) |
electronic/ electric parts, automotive parts | Ohtake | AL |
| Mitsui MP (pellicles) | dust proof membrane applied on photomask during lithography process | Ohtake | pellicles |
| Milason | packaging material | Ohtake | MDP |
| Himilan Nucrel |
packaging films, golf ball covering | Ohtake | |
| Gas pipes | gas pipes | Ohtake | MIP |
| (Tank yard) | - | Ohtake | OTY |
| (Plant utility) | - | Ohtake | 1MO 2MO H |
