Environmental Information

Environmental measures

To leave the heritage of a beautiful, unspoiled natural environment to future generations, it is our duty to utilize our technological expertise and all other forms of know-how, from every possible angle, to ensure that all our staff address their efforts to resolving the issue of harmonizing our business operations with the need to reduce their bur-den on the environment.


OEPC has been publishing a report on its environmental activities annually since 1996


Improving our environmental management


An ISO 14001 certificate

The Company has established the OEPC Environmental Policy under our Global Environment Action Committee, and is engaged in environmental activities covering all Company businesses. In March 2005, the Power Generation Dept. of OEPC's Electric Power Engineering Division obtained the 1996 version of the ISO 14001 certification of conformity with international standards for environmental management systems. This certification includes a blanket certification for three thermal power plants, Ishikawa, Gushikawa and Makiminato, which have hitherto obtained such certification separately, as well as Kin, and the Power Generation section at our head office, so that all power generation operations are now covered. Thus, all sections of the Company directly engaged in power generation have now been certified as in conformity with the ISO 140001 standards for environmental management systems. Building on this success, we will ensure that our environ-mental management systems under the blanket certification work more effectively, and will endeavor to reduce the environmental burden of our opera-tions still further in the future.


Combating global warming

The carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by the burning of fossil fuels is said to be the principal cause of global warming, and this is a major issue which the electric power utilities have to address. Up to now, countermeasures have included measures to improve the efficiency of heat utilization at power stations, the introduction of new energy sources such as wind power and solar power, and a variety of energy conservation initiatives. By these means, the utilities have attempted to reduce their volume of combustion of fossil fuels and thus their emissions of carbon dioxide. At OEPC, we have decided on the construction of a new power station at Yoshinoura, which will burn LNG instead of coal or oil, as this fuel generates much lower carbon dioxide emission levels. As supplemental measures, we are also taking advantage of the mechanisms provided under the Kyoto Protocol to assist in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale, through contributions to the World Bank's Community Development Carbon Fund, among other such projects. The Company is raising the awareness of global warming issues through participation in the Team Minus 6% national campaign for prevention of global warming (for achievement of a 6%reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases in Japan, in line with the Kyoto Protocol). We are also aggressively promoting energy-saving measures already in place.



Local environmental improvement initiatives

To ensure that the islands of Okinawa retain their beautiful natural environment for the enjoyment of generations yet unborn, we make a special effort to protect the countryside and seaside in the vicinity of our power plants. At existing power plants, we are undertaking a range of environment protection measures, targeting atmospheric pollution, water pollution, warm wastewater pollution, and noise and vibration issues, to ensure that our activities do not impact the surrounding environment. We also make reports to relevant local authorities based on environment protection agreements, after carrying out environmental monitoring studies into air and water quality and noise and vibration issues around our power plants. In preparation for the start of operations at our planned Yoshinoura Thermal Power Station in fiscal 2011, we have con-ducted environmental assessments. We are canvassing the views of local residents as well as the local government, and hope to create a new power plant that will harmonize smoothly with the natural surroundings cherished by the community. In addition, we are taking the following measures to improve the local environment: rigorous management of chemical sub-stances such as PCB and dioxin; greening power plant sites to achieve more harmony with the natural environment and areas of scenic beauty in the area; and trialing the "greening of the sea"(by planting coral and seaweed) around our power generation facilities.

Conducting a survey of plant and animal life as part of an Environmental Assessment

Environmental protection facilities at a power plant As part of an overall policy of removing harmful chemicals from smoke emitted by our power plants, they are equipped with desulphurization and denitrification equipment.


Creation of sustainable resource reuse system

OEPC is promoting the use of a three-pronged system for handling the waste products generated by its operations. The threepoint system incorporates the concepts of "reduce, reuse, and recycle" as a way of optimally utilizing the Earth's limited natural resources. For example, we use the coal ash and gypsum created by the combustion process at our coal-fired power plants as raw materials for cement, as an alternative to sand in the production of synthetic stone materials, and as an agricultural soil improvement agent. In December 2004 we designated Pozotech, a road-surfacing material made from coal ash, as a recycling material for use in Okinawa Prefecture. We aim to expand its use in construction projects.

Road surfaced with OEPC’s Pozotech

Artificial gravel

Recycled toilet paper We collect used paper from our offices and supply it to local paper manufacturers, who recycle it into toilet paper.


Harmony with society

June is environmental month at OEPC. We undertake a range of activities such as raising employee environmental awareness at our head office and power stations, and participating in beach-and highway-cleaning activities and tree-planting organized by local governments. To promote greening activities as part of our afforestation and global-warming prevention measures, we are turning the former US military shooting range Cape Zampa Park, Yomitan village, into a recreational forest, Zampa Shiosai no Mori, in cooperation with Okinawa Prefecture and Yomitan.

A tree-planting event at “Zampa Shiosai no Mori”