Nippon Sanso subsidiary 日本液炭 will establish a new liquefied carbon dioxide production site on the premises of the Oita Area of Kyushu Works. The investment will exceed ¥20 billion, with production capacity of 300 tonnes per day. Completion is scheduled for September 2028.
日本液炭 will establish a new operation to recover, liquefy and purify by-product carbon dioxide from the steelmaking process for the production and sale of liquefied carbon dioxide. The company expects demand for welding in shipbuilding and other applications to grow and aims to strengthen its stable supply capabilities.
President Iizuka Hiroyuki (飯塚浩幸) explained the plan at the Oita Prefectural Government office and said the company would seek partners in other regions because domestic sources of feedstock carbon dioxide are declining as refineries are restructured.
Domestic demand for liquefied carbon dioxide is concentrated in shipbuilding, automotive welding, semiconductor cleaning and beverages. While concerns about tight supply and demand are increasing, diversifying feedstock sources and expanding supply capacity have been identified as challenges.