OREANDA-NEWS. June 04, 2012. The Kashima Steel Works of Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd. has restored its gas holder damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011. It started operation on May 25, 2012. It is one of two damaged gas holders there.

Based on the lessons learned from the 2011 earthquake, we installed the new holder with a capability to stop off-center and rotational movement of pistons even in the case of earthquake in order to prevent gas leakage. Also, we applied seismic design standards with twice the resistance to earthquake lateral motion than previously.

Its capacity has been increased by 50%. This ensures more stable supply of gas to the power generators and thereby contributing to the efficiency and the cost reduction of the steel works.

After the restoration of this holder, two facilities remain to be restored in the Kashima steel works. The continuous unloader for raw materials is planned to be back in operation in early June, and the another gas holder will be in operation by next spring.