At the New Year’s celebration party held in Tokyo on January 11, Masahiro Toyoda, chairman of Japan Industrial and Medical Gases Association (JIMGA) gave his view, “Last year we suffered quite devastating disasters caused by the unprecedented natural and human-made calamities. In that disastrous situation due to the Great East Japan Earthquake last year, JIMGA could implement its timely and quick supports in both medical and industrial gas fields, through the well-arranged collaboration between the JIMGA headquarters and nation-wide regional offices with the co-operation of the local governments and authorities concerned. It proves that this organization is working so actively. I wish to make such activities more and more strenuous this year.”

Furthermore, he pointed out the 8 themes which JIMGA should tackle this year, namely ①Assurance of security and safety, ②Resolution and eradication of unidentified or deserted containers and ③Actions for environment-related taxes in the category of industrial gases, as well as ④Response to International harmonization, ⑤Complete eradication of accidents, ⑥Promotion of MGR, ⑦Participation in PIC/S and ⑧Conclusion of disaster prevention agreement with all regional governments.

With regard particularly to the environment-related taxes③, there are 3 subjects, environmental tax, cost-sharing of renewable energy and emissions trading. Fortunately, however, we have been authorized as an electric power-intensive industry for cost-sharing of renewable energy and granting of about 80% exemption has been decided.

He said, “We have now come to the stage of working out concrete figures by July of this year. The emission trading seems to become a dead issue, but we still will keep collecting information, not feeling relieved.” He also referred to the Tokyo Electric’s 20% increase of electric power rate from April 1 which was announced suddenly at the end of last year. He said, “I personally think that this could be the biggest problem of this year. As our industry consumes 9.6 billion kwh every year, I am afraid our burden as a whole to be caused by the 20% increase will amount to more than 20 billion yen.

He added, “This issue is so delicate that our industry cannot commit either pros or cons opinion with inattention hastily. We have to build unity of intention among the members regarding what we can do as JIMGA, with the guidance of related authorities, taking into account their condition of compliance. We are going to step ahead carefully and cleverly.”