Discharge of wastewater containing benzene and other substances from the Company's Okayama Plant
HOKKO CHEMICAL INDUSTRY CO.,LTD.
Okayama Plant, Synthetic Plant 6 and Synthetic Plant 7. The discharge occurred near the base of the quay at Yoshiura Beach. The chemicals contained in the wastewater include benzene, toluene and xylene.
The waste liquid is believed to have escaped through cracks in the resin coating on the wastewater pits at Synthetic Plants 6 and 7. Investigations and efforts to determine the cause are ongoing.
Company response
Operations at Synthetic Plants 6 and 7 were suspended. Use of the wastewater pits at the other plants was temporarily suspended.
Production at Synthetic Plants 6 and 7 has resumed using a method that does not involve the wastewater pits. Production at the other plants is continuing.
A response headquarters has been established. In addition to receiving advice from an external service provider with expertise in water quality surveys, the Company has commissioned external specialist organizations to conduct investigations and analyses.
The Company will thoroughly prevent any recurrence of wastewater discharge by using methods that do not involve the wastewater pits / Going forward, the Company will consider fundamental measures to prevent further discharge
Related procedures
Instructions and guidance from administrative authorities, and sampling surveys of seawater
Administrative authorities, including Okayama Prefecture and Tamano City
The impact of this matter on consolidated results will be promptly disclosed once it is determined.
The Company will investigate the cause, address measures to prevent further discharge and assess the impact on seawater. It will pump groundwater along the discharge route, seal the discharge outlet at the quay, continue checking for any further discharge and consider fundamental measures to prevent further discharge.
The impact of this matter on consolidated results will be promptly disclosed once it is determined.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Event name | Discharge of wastewater containing benzene and other substances from the Company's Okayama Plant |
| Date of occurrence | Around 16:15 on 14 July 2026 (when the discharge was discovered). The wastewater discharge was confirmed at around 22:00 on 17 July 2026. |
| Date recognized / date notice received | Around 16:15 on 14 July 2026 (the date on which Tamano City notified us of the discharge) |
| Subject Entity | HOKKO CHEMICAL INDUSTRY CO.,LTD. |
| Target Locations / Products | Okayama Plant, Synthetic Plant 6 and Synthetic Plant 7. The discharge occurred near the base of the quay at Yoshiura Beach. The chemicals contained in the wastewater include benzene, toluene and xylene. |
| Cause | The waste liquid is believed to have escaped through cracks in the resin coating on the wastewater pits at Synthetic Plants 6 and 7. Investigations and efforts to determine the cause are ongoing. |
| Impact on Earnings Forecast | The impact of this matter on consolidated results will be promptly disclosed once it is determined. |
| Type of litigation or proceeding | Instructions and guidance from administrative authorities, and sampling surveys of seawater |
| Court or authority | Administrative authorities, including Okayama Prefecture and Tamano City |
| Suspended operations | Operations at Synthetic Plants 6 and 7 were suspended. Use of the wastewater pits at the other plants was temporarily suspended. |
| Scheduled resumption date | Production at Synthetic Plants 6 and 7 has resumed using a method that does not involve the wastewater pits. Production at the other plants is continuing. |
| Investigation structure | A response headquarters has been established. In addition to receiving advice from an external service provider with expertise in water quality surveys, the Company has commissioned external specialist organizations to conduct investigations and analyses. |
| Measures to prevent recurrence | The Company will thoroughly prevent any recurrence of wastewater discharge by using methods that do not involve the wastewater pits / Going forward, the Company will consider fundamental measures to prevent further discharge |
| Outlook | The Company will investigate the cause, address measures to prevent further discharge and assess the impact on seawater. It will pump groundwater along the discharge route, seal the discharge outlet at the quay, continue checking for any further discharge and consider fundamental measures to prevent further discharge. |
| Planned follow-up disclosure | The impact of this matter on consolidated results will be promptly disclosed once it is determined. |
Items this document does not state (10)
These are items the company does not state in this document. We do not leave them blank, nor fill them in from other sources or by inference.
The reasons the company gives
The company's own explanation, not something inferred from the numbers.Cracks were found in the resin coating on the wastewater pits at Synthetic Plants 6 and 7, and the waste liquid is believed to have escaped through them. Investigations and efforts to determine the cause are continuing.