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On Sunday, December 10, Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) visited Onahama Smelter & Refinery, in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, which is one of the copper smelters & refineries of the Mitsubishi Materials Group.
In the Medium-term Management Strategy FY2031 from fiscal 2024 to fiscal 2031, we aim to enhance our competitiveness and expand our business as early as possible by expanding the scope of resource recycling through strengthening cooperation in our value chain especially copper, and by improving the efficiency of resource recycling through the development of new processes. In particular, we set a target to increase the processing capacity of E-Scrap from the current 160,000 tons/year to 240,000 tons/year. Against this backdrop, Onahama Smelter & Refinery, the only copper smelter & refinery in eastern Japan, is striving to increase and expand its recycling business, including E-Scrap. In addition, we are focusing on the development of LIB recycling technology and will build a pilot plant at Onahama Smelter & Refinery site to establish the process. The visit included a tour of the copper smelting site as well as the E-scrap processing facility, and an introduction of our company's initiatives.
Minister Nishimura commented, "We recognize that it is very important to build a robust supply chain and develop technologies for critical minerals that do not depend on specific countries. Recently, we approved the development of LIB recycling technology as the first grant based on the Economic Security Law. We look forward to further technological development."
The Group has set "For people, society and the earth, circulating resources for a sustainable future" as "Our Commitment." We will continue to contribute to build a recycling-oriented society by utilizing our company's recycling technology.

At the E-Scrap processing facility, No. 3 recycling yard

[Related press release]

December 6, 2023
Construction of a Pilot Plant for the Establishment of Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Technology
URL: https://www.mmc.co.jp/corporate/en/news/2023/news20231206.html