Iwatani invests to reinforce its LCO2 plant in Chiba Prefecture to double the production capacity. The amount of investment has not been disclosed. The operation is expected to start in July 2021.

Iwatani Industrial Gases’ Chiba Plant to which Iwatani invests will use the by-product gas sourced from Cosmo Oil Chiba Refinery and is producing LCO2 now with an output capacity of about 43,000t/year. With the investment at this time Iwatani is going to attain a two times more capacity up to 86,000t/year at maximum and also build seven new tanks of 100t each, making a total storage capacity of 1,100t including the two existing tanks of 200t/year each.

Affected by the recent reorganization at the side of the petrochemical plants as a carbonic source, the domestic supply condition of carbon dioxide has been plunged into an extremely serious shortage. Particularly in the peak of demand in summer season, dry ice runs short most seriously and the long-distance transportation from the other LCO2 gas plants has also caused a problem.

Due to the periodical maintenance and trouble shootings in petroleum plants, Iwatani Industrial Gases is also forced to make an extra conveyance of transport from its Yokkaichi Plant to the Kanto District in many cases though not usual.

In the midst of such situation Iwatani decided to invest to the Chiba Plant at this time, considering that Cosmo Oil Chiba had a surplus of crude carbon dioxide and the demand for carbon dioxide and dry ice exists mainly in the Kanto District. Regarding the future needs of carbon dioxide, the company anticipates further requirements in carbonated drinks and vegetable gardens.