Press Releases

October 25, 1999
Asahi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.

The Japanese Defense Agency has selected Asahi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. for participation in the destruction of its anti-personnel mines under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on their Destruction, which was adopted in Oslo in September 1997 and became effective in Japan on March 1, 1999, following its signing and ratification by the Japanese government. In accordance with the convention, all anti-personnel mines held by the Japanese Defense Agency, numbering about one million, will be destroyed by the end of February 2003.

Asahi is pleased and honored by this selection and the opportunity it represents to contribute to implementation of this international program of cooperation directed toward peace and safety for many throughout the world.

Asahi is an established explosives manufacturer and has for many years been a leader in the development and use of explosion bonding, at its Aibano Laboratory facility, to produce metal clads composed of strongly bonded dissimilar metals.

With its wealth of experience, established facilities, and technologies and expertise in the production and handling of explosives, Asahi was invited to participate as a nominee in bidding for performance of the mine destruction, and has now been selected to carry out this work. We are proceeding with the filing of applications for the required approvals, permits, and other related preparations, and we are scheduled to perform the mine destruction under the contract awarded to us during January to August 2000.

In the mine destruction process, the quantity of explosive in each operational procedure will be relatively small, at most approximately one-tenth the maximum quantity used during our explosion bonding operation, and the mine destruction operation is expected to pose no problem relating to safety, surroundings, or environment.

Essentials of the contracted mine destruction operation

1. Types and number of mines to be destroyed

Type 67 anti-personnel mines - charge container	151,544
Type 67 anti-personnel mines - main body   (with integral fuse)	151,544
Type 63 anti-personnel mines - main body	9,232
Type M3 anti-personnel mines - main body	6,000

Note: In all cases, the destruction of initiating device and main body is to be conducted separately; the Asahi contract does not include Type 63 or M3 mine fuses.

2. Methods of mine destruction (Implementations subject to receipt of relevant permits and approvals; see Sec. 6 below.)

(1) Type 67 charge container, Type 63 main body, Type M3 main body

Disposal by explosion inside explosion dome; 10 kg of explosive per explosion; 6 explosions per day.

 

Explosion dome: Semi-cylindrical; 25-meter length by 7-meter height; composed of 12-mm thickness steel plate and 1-meter thickness reinforced concrete covered with 3 meters of soil; permissible explosion capacity, approx. 150 kg; formerly used for explosion bonding with 60 kg to 120 kg of explosive.

 

(2) Type 67 main body (with integral fuse)

 

Disposal by explosion of two pieces per explosion; in explosion-proof 10-mm thickness stainless steel chamber 50 cm length by 50 cm width by 110 cm height located in 40 m² concrete-block vault; depression of initiating device by remote automated apparatus; approx. 1,200 pieces per day.

3. Site of mine destruction operation

Aibano Laboratory (General Manager, Hisayuki Narasaki), Explosives Division, Oita Plant,
Asahi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
3076-149 Oaza Aiba, Shin-Asahi-machi, Takashima-gun, Shiga-ken
Phone: +81-740-25-3311

4. Scheduled period of mine destruction operation

January to August 2000

5. Safety and environment

(1) Safety measures

Utmost care will be taken to ensure safety throughout the mine destruction operation, with strict observance of relevant domestic laws and regulations, formulation and observance of process operations checklists based on many years of explosives production and handling process technology and expertise, and monthly safety training of those engaged in the mine destruction operation.

 

A security system of 24-hour continuous watch and surveillance will be employed.

The mine destruction operation will pose no problem related to noise, because of the small quantity of explosive in each operational procedure at most one-tenth that of the quantity used in large-scale explosion bonding at the facility, and the extremely short duration of each operational explosion. Measurements will be made and the results reported as described in (3) below.

The mine destruction operation will generate water vapor, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, and carbon, all in small quantities because the quantity of explosive will be small.

 

A publicly authorized organization is scheduled to measure the gases and noise generated in operating trials of the mine destruction explosion procedure, and report the results of the measurements to the governmental authorities.

The explosion procedure will be confined entirely indoors, with no occurrence of outdoor flying debris.

Disposal of the debris from the explosion procedure will be consigned to authorized local industrial waste processors, in accordance with law and regulations, following confirmation of its safety.

To present

(1) Conclusion of contract with Defense Agency, July 21, 1999.

 

(2) Receipt of permit for possession of land mines in order to carry out their destruction under Japanese law relating to anti-personnel mines; Ministry of Trade and Industry of Japan, September 14, 1999.

 

(3) Permit for disposal of explosives (Shiga Prefecture) under the Explosives Control Law.

 

Application for permit from Shiga Prefecture for mine destruction trial; submitted October 25, 1999.

Hereafter

Receipt of permit from Shiga Prefecture for mine destruction trial; expected in late October 1999.

 

(4) Mine destruction trials; late October to mid November 1999.

 

(5) Application for and receipt of permit from Shiga Prefecture for full-scale mine destruction operation; late November to mid December 1999.

 

(6) Conduct of the mine destruction operation; mid January 2000 to late August 2000.

Related information

1. Open forum on mine destruction operation

We view this operation for the destruction of land mines as part of a global cooperative effort under the international convention banning anti-personnel mines, and thus as a matter of public interest and concern both in Japan and overseas. We are committed to the sound and effective conduct of this operation with full requisite consideration for the maintenance of safety and the environment, and with the cooperation of national, prefectural and local authorities.

We are currently consulting the Defense Agency concerning the convening of an open forum for all related persons and media personnel, before the start-up of the full-scale mine destruction operation, with the date of the forum to be scheduled and announced in accordance with the determination of the start-up date.

2. Corporate profile of Asahi Chemical

3. Explosives-sector businesses of Asahi Chemical