Denka Co. Ltd. (TYO:4061) and Hokuriku Electric Power Co. will build a new hydroelectric power plant in Itoigawa City, Niigata Prefecture, through their 50:50 joint venture Kurobegawa Denryoku. Construction of the facility has been under consideration since August 2014 and is slated to begin in 2018. Transmission is planned to start in April 2022. Denka will be entitled to a...
Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) has voiced its support for and joined the Sustainable Natural Rubber Initiative (SNR-i) to make natural rubber a sustainable resource. The initiative is advocated by the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG), an intergovernmental organization formed by governments of synthetic rubber producers and consumers. The SNR-i has set five goals: support for greater productivity; enhanced quality...
The price of butadiene is increasing dramatically. After trending for some time at an Asian spot price near $1,000 per ton, the synthetic rubber raw material started on a rapidly ascending curve in autumn last year. It has resulted in a tripling in value, jumping to approximately $3,000 per ton. The sharp gain in butadiene will have a strong impact...
Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) will serve as the title sponsor for the 2017 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, set to take place Oct. 8–15 in Australia. The event is the world’s preeminent solar race, spanning approximately five days as drivers cover some 3,000 kilometers from Darwin in the north to Adelaide in the south. Started with the idea of furthering R&D toward...
Nexen Tire Corp. is gearing up to make a full-scale push into the Japanese market. South Korea’s third-largest tire manufacturer has established a joint venture with Toyota Tsusho Corp. (TYO:8015), the trading arm of the Toyota Group. Registered as Nexen Tire Japan Inc., the new subsidiary will serve as a trading company in automotive tires and is set to commence...
Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) has concluded a comprehensive agreement with Ochanomizu University in a bid to help promote female leaders. This is the first industry-academic agreement made by either party to cultivate female leadership. Specifically, it strives to nurture the next generation of women leaders, develop the abilities of active students who will play leading roles at each organization, and serve...
