We again express our deepest sympathies to victims of the earthquake that struck off the coast of the Tohoku district in the Pacific Ocean on March 11, 2011.
The following summarizes the current status of the Group:
1. Confirmation of the safety of Group employees
Ishinomaki Mill, Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (Ishinomaki, Miyagi) The highest priority continues to be placed upon confirming the safety of the employees at the Ishinomaki Mill and of employees at other related companies near the Ishinomaki Mill.
Iwanuma Mill, Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (Iwanuma, Miyagi) The highest priority continues to be placed upon confirming the safety of the employees at the Iwanuma Mill and of employees at other related companies near the Iwanuma Mill.
The safety of all employees at the Nakoso Mill of Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (Iwaki, Fukushima), Akita Mill of Nippon Daishowa Paperboard Co., Ltd. (Akita, Akita), Kitakami Paper Co., Ltd. (Ichinoseki, Iwate) and Daishowa Uniboard Co., Ltd. (Iwanuma, Miyagi) has already been confirmed.
2. Status of key mills
Ishinomaki Mill, Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (Ishinomaki, Miyagi) The mill remains under complete closedown. Heavy equipment was brought in to clear a passage through the dirt and rubble that was deposited on the mill grounds by the tsunami. At present the dirt, rubble and scattered materials are being cleaned up. In order to restore operations, damage done to the equipment is being confirmed.
Iwanuma Mill, Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (Iwanuma, Miyagi) The mill remains under complete closedown. While working to ship the products in the
warehouse that were not damaged, confirmation of the status of equipment and materials continues in preparation to resume operations.
Nakoso Mill, Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (Iwaki, Fukushima) The mill remains in a state of complete closedown. While working to ship the products in the warehouse that were not damaged, measures continue to be taken to restore the boilers which were damaged in the earthquake.
Kitakami Paper Co., Ltd. (Ichinoseki, Iwate) Thanks to the operation of the boilers, operation of the paper machines was sequentially resumed starting on March 24.
Akita Mill, Nippon Daishowa Paperboard Co., Ltd. (Akita, Akita) Operation of the equipment that had been under closedown was resumed on March 18.