Onahama Smelter & Refinery's Environmental Issues and Sustainability Initiatives" - December 6, 2023

Onahama Smelter & Refinery's Environmental Issues and Sustainability Initiatives" - December 6, 2023

The Onahama Smelting and Refining Co., Ltd. in Fukushima Prefecture is a copper smelter operated by Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, and its environmental impact has recently been the focus of much attention. Although the smelter has taken steps to reduce the environmental impact of its copper production, several environmental issues remain a concern.

First, the Onahama Smelter and Refinery is at risk of heavy metals and other toxic substances in the wastewater generated during the smelting process, which could adversely affect the surrounding water quality and soil. In particular, it has been pointed out that wastewater generated during the extraction of copper from ore can flow into rivers and groundwater, increasing the risk to the local ecosystem and the health of local residents. In response, MMC has been improving its wastewater treatment facilities and implementing soil remediation projects, but concerns continue to be raised by the local community.

In 2023, MMC announced plans to build a pilot plant for lithium-ion battery recycling technology at this smelter. The development of this technology aims to recover and refine rare metals such as lithium and cobalt from discarded batteries with high efficiency, which is expected to further reduce environmental impact in the future.

In addition, MMC is focusing on strengthening its recycling business with plans to achieve a processing capacity of 200,000 tons of E-Scrap (electronic device waste) by 2031. These initiatives are part of our efforts to build a sustainable resource-recycling society.