Release of Wastewater Containing Benzene and Other Substances from Our Okayama Plant (Third Report)
HOKKO CHEMICAL INDUSTRY CO.,LTD.
Okayama Plant, Synthetic No. 6 Plant, Synthetic No. 7 Plant, and the vicinity of the quay foundation at Yoshiura Beach. The chemical substances contained in the discharged wastewater include benzene, toluene and xylene.
① Deterioration of the concrete inside the trench leading to the wastewater pit at Synthetic No. 6 Plant; ② damage to the drainage channel and cracks in the buried piping leading to the wastewater pit at Synthetic No. 7 Plant. The company is identifying the cause of the discharge, including the possibility of other sources.
Company response
Operations were suspended at Synthetic No. 6 Plant and Synthetic No. 7 Plant, which primarily handle the chemical substances detected.
An incident response headquarters has been established. The company is receiving advice from an external service provider with expertise in water-quality testing.
The affected areas at Synthetic No. 6 Plant and Synthetic No. 7 Plant that are considered possible sources of the discharge will be repaired and structurally improved promptly. In addition, all wastewater systems within the Okayama Plant will be reinspected, and repairs to the wastewater facilities and improvements and relocation of the wastewater structures, including conversion of buried piping to a trench structure, will be carried out systematically.
The impact of this matter on the company’s consolidated results will be disclosed promptly once determined.
Related procedures
Administrative authorities, including Okayama Prefecture and Tamano City
The wastewater systems within the Okayama Plant will be inspected, and repairs, improvements and relocation of the wastewater facilities will be carried out. Boring surveys and other investigations will be conducted on the plant premises to analyze the distribution of soil and groundwater contamination, as well as the direction and volume of groundwater flow. The remediation method will be determined based on the results of the analyses, and the remediation work is scheduled for completion by March 2027.
The impact of this matter on consolidated results will be disclosed promptly once determined.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Event name | Release of Wastewater Containing Benzene and Other Substances from Our Okayama Plant (Third Report) |
| Date of occurrence | A report of the discharge was received at around 16:15 on 14 July 2026, and the company confirmed at around 22:00 on 17 July 2026 that wastewater containing chemical substances had been discharged. |
| Date recognized / date notice received | At around 16:15 on 14 July 2026, the company received notification that Tamano City had reported the discharge. |
| Subject Entity | HOKKO CHEMICAL INDUSTRY CO.,LTD. |
| Target Locations / Products | Okayama Plant, Synthetic No. 6 Plant, Synthetic No. 7 Plant, and the vicinity of the quay foundation at Yoshiura Beach. The chemical substances contained in the discharged wastewater include benzene, toluene and xylene. |
| Cause | ① Deterioration of the concrete inside the trench leading to the wastewater pit at Synthetic No. 6 Plant; ② damage to the drainage channel and cracks in the buried piping leading to the wastewater pit at Synthetic No. 7 Plant. The company is identifying the cause of the discharge, including the possibility of other sources. |
| Impact on Earnings Forecast | The impact of this matter on the company’s consolidated results will be disclosed promptly once determined. |
| Court or authority | Administrative authorities, including Okayama Prefecture and Tamano City |
| Suspended operations | Operations were suspended at Synthetic No. 6 Plant and Synthetic No. 7 Plant, which primarily handle the chemical substances detected. |
| Investigation structure | An incident response headquarters has been established. The company is receiving advice from an external service provider with expertise in water-quality testing. |
| Measures to prevent recurrence | The affected areas at Synthetic No. 6 Plant and Synthetic No. 7 Plant that are considered possible sources of the discharge will be repaired and structurally improved promptly. In addition, all wastewater systems within the Okayama Plant will be reinspected, and repairs to the wastewater facilities and improvements and relocation of the wastewater structures, including conversion of buried piping to a trench structure, will be carried out systematically. |
| Outlook | The wastewater systems within the Okayama Plant will be inspected, and repairs, improvements and relocation of the wastewater facilities will be carried out. Boring surveys and other investigations will be conducted on the plant premises to analyze the distribution of soil and groundwater contamination, as well as the direction and volume of groundwater flow. The remediation method will be determined based on the results of the analyses, and the remediation work is scheduled for completion by March 2027. |
| Planned follow-up disclosure | The impact of this matter on consolidated results will be disclosed promptly once determined. |
Items this document does not state (12)
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.Inspection of the wastewater routes confirmed deterioration of the concrete inside the trench leading to the wastewater pit at Synthetic No. 6 Plant, as well as damage to the drainage channel and cracks in the buried piping leading to the wastewater pit at Synthetic No. 7 Plant. The results of gas testing also indicate that these may be sources of the discharge. However, the company is continuing to identify the cause, including the possibility of other sources.