April 30, 2010

Fire at Sumitomo Chemical's Ehime works spells no impact to Methionine production

A fire broke out around 5.30pm Thursday (Apr 29) on the grounds of a Sumitomo Chemical plant site at Ohe area in Niihama City of Ehime Prefecture.

The incident is believed to have no impact on the company's methionine production, according to sources familiar with the company's feed additive activities.

Black smoke smelt of burning plastic was seen rising from the affiliate site of the SN Chemical factory for over three hours. Fire was put out five hours later and no injuries were reported.

The company said that the fire has destroyed part of the plastic resin manufacturing plant, at the time when 14 workers were on duty. All of them had been safely evacuated.

Sumitomo Chemical emergency headquarter is currently cooperating with the Niihama fire department to investigate the cause of the fire.

Niihama, whose once-productive copper mine jumpstarted the Sumitomo Group, has its economy largely supported by factories. Sumitomo remains a large presence in the town.