We are working to reduce direct and indirect CO2 emissions attributable to our refineries, complexes, and plants. Staff at our main manufacturing sites hold monthly meetings to monitor progress in energy conservation activities while sharing best practices in a way that transcends departmental boundaries.
In May 2020, the Chiba Complex modified its resid hydrodesulfurization unit to raise its efficiency. This project was intended to secure our responsiveness to regulations enforced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) with regard to the limitation of sulfur content in marine vessel fuel.
Currently, a construction project is under way at the Tokuyama Complex to introduce a highly efficient naphtha cracker, with plans calling for completing the introduction by the end of FY2020. The project involves the suspension of two naphtha crackers, old models that have been part of our ethylene manufacturing facility. These naphtha crackers will be replaced with a single new, high-efficiency model capable of performing the thermal decomposition of raw materials in less time. Thanks to this feature, the new cracker will help us raise the yield ratio of resulting ethylene while improving the thermal efficiency of production process. Accordingly, we anticipate the new ethylene production process will achieve roughly a 30% drop in energy consumption from the level prior to the upgrade.
We decided to begin powering our 15 domestic oil depots with renewable energy provided by Idemitsu Green Power K.K. Under contract, this group company will supply a total of 2,200 kW from FY2020.
Group company Idemitsu Snorre Oil Development Co., Ltd. has received permission from the Norwegian government for its development project to install floating offshore wind power turbines at the Snorre Oilfield, in which it owns a stake, through its local subsidiary Idemitsu Petroleum Norge AS. Aiming to start operations at the end of 2022, the company initiated construction of the floating offshore wind power equipment in October 2020. Plans call for assembling it in the Gulen municipality of western Norway, and then installing it offshore. The world’s first project of its kind, this development project is aimed at establishing a large-scale offshore wind farm (the Hywind Tampen floating wind farm) approximately 200 kilometers off the coast of Bergen City, the western part of Norway, and directly feeding its output to oil and gas production facilities. The completed wind farm will consist of 11 turbines, each with a rated power output of 8,000 kW, or a combined total of 88,000 kW.
Looking ahead, our company will proactively incorporate advanced technologies to advocate for the reduction of environmental burden in the course of our resource business.
