A number of Japanese steelworks reported damage after the massive earthquake and tsunami which struck the country.
Nippon Steel’s Kamaishi Steelworks was hit by the tsunami and was knocked out of action. It is located 130 miles north of Sendai, the nearest town to the earthquake’s epicentre.
Damage to the steelworks included its port facilities and NSC said it would continue to supply steel products from production at its other steelworks.
NSC’s Kimitsu Works was temporarily suspended but has resumed blast-furnace and rolling operations.
Sumitomo Metals Industries Kasima steelworks suffered damage, which caused a fire in a coke oven gas holder as well as damage to the quay and the quay cranes, auxiliary facilities of the coke oven and the loosened gas pipes, and damage to the auxiliary facilities of the blast furnace.
The earthquake damage was confirmed mainly at the port facilities and upstream manufacturing facilities, and only slightly at the buildings within the steelworks. No damage was sustained from the tsunami wave. Shipments were made four days after the earthquake
Sumitomo Kashima is located on the coast due east of Tokyo and some 190 miles south of Sendai.
JFE Corporation said its blast furnaces in the East Japan Works, including in both the Chiba and Keihin areas, have resumed operations following precautionary maintenance and inspection. Maximum efforts have been made to conserve energy due to the tight supply of electricity.
The West Japan Works and Chita Works were not damaged and are operating normally.
Kobe Steel’s steel facilities are located in the south of Japan and reported no damage.
