Earthquake Disaster Reconstruction Project in Japan
On 11th, March, 2011, the coastal regions of Tohoku-district suffered tremendous damage from gigantic Tsunami caused by a huge earthquake of Magnitude 9.0. According Ministry of the Environment of Japan, the earthquake-rubble in those areas (Fukushima-, Miyagi-, and Iwate-prefecture) amounts approx. 25 million-tons. This is equivalent to the amount of for more than 20 years’ worth of rubble. And now, 10 months after this unprecedented disaster, Metso’s technology plays a great roll in the Disaster Reconstruction Project.
Shredding and separating plant for recycling disaster waste
On 20th, January, 2012, a start-up ceremony of the shredding and separating plant, at which rubble from the Great East Japan Earthquake is going to be processed, was held at Fujiwara-Pier in Miyako-city of Iwate prefecture. In this plant 700,000 tons of rubble in total from surrounding regions is to be processed. Until now rubble were treated by hand work, and therefore it is expected that the completion of this plant will speed up the reconstruction progress dramatically.
Shinto priest praying for a safe and secure operation of the plant
Our M&J4000M-8 does the primary shredding in this plant. It assumes a heavy responsibility of the primary shredding of earthquake-rubble this time because one of features of our shredder “Open-Cutting-System” was highly approved.
This machine is HDC heavy-duty shredder of semi-trailer version driven by 530 HP Mercedes diesel engine. It is basically two-shaft machine, but unlike the traditional rotor shears, it shreds materials into fine fragments with rotating knives and counter knives. The clearances between them prevent unnecessary wear.
Following this, an M&J6000S, the biggest in this series, is scheduled to install in Ishinomaki-area in Miyagi-prefecture. We expect here that Metso’s technology is also able to contribute a lot to the reconstruction of Tohoku, Japan.
Heap of rubble as far as the eye can see
