Denka’s Omi plant celebrates 100th anniversary

Tokyo, Japan – The Omi Plant (Itoigawa, Niigata) of Denka Company Limited celebrated the 100th anniversary of its establishment in December this year.
The Omi Plant began manufacturing carbide in 1921, effectively using limestone from Mt. Kurohime, which is close to the plant, privately generated power, and other resources. The plant utilizes its unique “carbide-chain” to produce a wide range of products from inorganic chemicals, including calcium cyanamide fertilizers and special cement admixtures, to organic chemicals, including special synthetic rubbers and polymer hyaluronic acid preparations. It has been one of the main plants of Denka. In 2018, the Omi Innovation Hub, a new general office, was completed. The Omi Innovation Hub facilitates the integrated and efficient management of different divisions at the plant and functions as a hub for interactions with local communities. Also, the plant is developing an employee-friendly
environment.
When the Omi Plant opened, a private hydroelectric power plant for the Omi Plant also commenced operation. In January this year, the New Omigawa Power Plant, a private hydroelectric power plant, began transmitting power. The Omi Plant now has 16 private power plants, with a maximum output of 126,000 kW in total, enough to power roughly 170,000 households (the second largest generation capacity among private manufacturers in Japan). In April next year, the New Himekawa No. 6 Power Plant is slated to start transmitting power. The Omi Plant is expanding its use of clean energy. Meanwhile, the Omi Plant is developing special technologies and materials. The plant is developing CCUS* technologies to implement them to help achieve carbon neutrality. It is also conducting research and development of special admixture “LEAF” as the key material of “CO2-SUICOM”, concrete that absorbs CO2, to make CO2-SUICOM more popular.