Explosion and Fire at Himeji Plant / Accident Investigation Committee Interim Report

NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD [Tokyo Stock Exchange – TOKSE:4114.T] (“NIPPON SHOKUBAI”) is deeply saddened by the loss of life resulting from the explosion and fire at the Himeji Plant on September 29 and extends its sincere condolences to family members. In addition, NIPPON SHOKUBAI extends its sincere apologies to the individuals who were injured by this accident and to the enormous problems this incident caused for the neighborhood of the plant and to other people associated with this incident.
NIPPON SHOKUBAI established an Accident Investigation Committee with members of the academia and external specialists (“the Committee”), which has been investigating causes of the accident.
The Committee obtained certain results about direct causes of the accident and preventive measures following four meetings, and completed an interim report.
NIPPON SHOKUBAI accepted the report which is attached bellow.

1. Location and Equipment Involved (Fig.1)
(1) Location
Himeji Plant, Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
992-1 Aza Nishioki, Okihama, Aboshi-ku, Himeji, Hyogo, Japan
(2) Equipment involved
An intermediate tank in the acrylic acid production facility

2. Chronological description
September 29
　ca.13:20 Confirmed white acrylic acid vapor
　ca.13:48–49 Called the fire department
　ca.14:35 Explosion and fire at acrylic acid-tank
　22:36 Fire under control
September 30
　15:30 Fire extinguished

3. Damages
(1) Casualties
Fatality: 1 (firefighter)
Severely injured: 5 (2 firefighters and 3 employees)
Moderately injured: 13 (8 firefighters, 1 police officer, and 4 employees)
Lightly injured: 18 (14 firefighters, 1 police officer, and 3 employees)
Total: 37 persons
(2) Property damage
The tank involved was destroyed and its surrounding equipment, racks, piping, cables, etc., were damaged.

< Overview of the Acrylic Acid Production Facility >
(Fig.2)

<Organizations for investigation>
1. Accident Investigation Committee, established on October 5
(1) Members
< academia and external specialists>
Masamitsu Tamura
Chairman of the Committee
Emeritus Professor, The University of Tokyo

Yasukazu Arai
Former Managing Director, The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan

Mitsuo Koshi
Research Professor, Institute of Engineering Innovation, School of Engineering,
The University of Tokyo

Masayoshi Nakamura
Professor, The Graduate School of Technology Management,
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

<NIPPON SHOKUBAI>
Yosuke Ogata
Representative Member of the Board, Senior Managing Executive Officer

Masao Kitano
Director, Safe Production Technology Division ,
President, Nisshoku Butsuryu Co., Ltd.

Hiroya Kobayashi
Director, Responsible Care Division

(2) Meetings held
#1 October 23, 2012
#2 November 15, 2012
#3 December 4, 2012
#4 December 25, 2012

2. Safe Production Technology Division, established on October 17

<Accident Investigation Committee Interim Report >
Please refer the attachment.

Contact
Investor & Public Relations Dept.,
NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.
TEL: +81-3-3506-7477 E-mail: shokubai@n.shokubai.co.jp