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Investigation Concerning Technologies for Reducing the Environmental Impact of Low-Rank Coal in Mongolia Starts

- Project to Support Solutions to Environmental Issues in Mongolian Cities -

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Feb. 24, 2012
Sojitz Corporation
Kurimoto, Ltd.

Sojitz Corporation and Kurimoto, Ltd. received a contract from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) to conduct an investigation concerning technologies for reducing the environmental impact of low-rank coal in Mongolia* and began conducting the investigation.

In Mongolia, atmospheric pollution caused by direct combustion of low-cost, low-grade coal for heating in urban areas including Ulan Bator, the capital city, and the resulting increase in harm to health including respiratory diseases are becoming serious problems. The Mongolian government is cooperating with various other countries in its search for solutions to limit the occurrence of air pollution and is focusing on environmental countermeasure products that employ Japan’s clean coal technology (CCT).

The contract, which was awarded under NEDO’s Clean Coal Technology Promotion Program, is to investigate the possibilities for reducing air pollution making use of Japan’s outstanding drying and other technologies to produce semi-coke briquettes that vastly reduce combustion emissions compared to direct combustion. This will allow for effective use of the abundant low-rank coal resources in Mongolia. The project is intended to investigate the economic feasibility of application.

Kurimoto possesses extensive know-how concerning the manufacture of semi-coke briquette production equipment and performs all processes from design to manufacture at its own plants and also performs installation construction. The project will identify optimal manufacturing conditions by introducing Kurimoto technologies to the drying process, the core production process in the manufacture of semi-coke briquettes, and the expenses and profitability in the case of commercial application of the production processes in Mongolia.

Sojitz has 40 years’ experience in business that uses CCT and in particular use of low-grade coal, and this project will verify business feasibility based on the needs of the Mongolian government, relevant agencies, and users.

Mongolia is an important resource-producing country, and Sojitz hopes to contribute to improvement of the environment in Mongolia by cooperating with the application of Japanese environmental technologies to address serious air pollution.

Reference

Kurimoto' s Semi-Coke Briquette Production System

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* On October 12, 2011, NEDO announced the selection of Kurimoto and Sojitz to conduct an investigation concerning technologies for reducing the environmental impact caused by low-rank coal in Mongolia under its Clean Coal Technology Promotion Program.

The project will gather and analyze basic and recent information necessary for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, reducing environmental impact, and enhancing international competitiveness in coal use technology fields. It will also investigate related technologies regarding CCT development as well as the applicability of and issues concerning the feasibility of their introduction in the future. Efforts will also be made towards the introduction of Japan’s outstanding CCT through international cooperation (technology exchanges with Europe and the U.S. and technical cooperation with China, India, and Southeast Asian countries).

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