| Developments at home and abroad |
Our efforts to deal with environmental issues |
| 1951 |
Nine electric power companies founded. |
1951 |
Tohoku EPCo inaugurated. |
| 1958 |
Electric precipitators installed.
(Hachinohe Thermal PS) |
| 1962 |
"Smoke and Soot Emissions Control Law" enacted. |
1963 |
Domestic natural gas-fired power generation introduced. (Niigata Thermal PS) |
| 1967 |
"Basic Law for Environmental Pollution Control" enacted. |
1967 |
Experimental aquaculture of abalones by using hot waste water commenced. (Sendai Thermal PS) |
| 1968 |
"Air Pollution Control Law" enacted. |
1969 |
The first agreement on prevention of environmental pollution signed. |
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"Noise Control Law" enacted. |
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| 1970 |
"Water Pollution Control Law" enacted. |
1971 |
Environmental Pollution Control Office created in Corporate Planning Department. |
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"Wastes Disposal and Public Cleaning Law" enacted.
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1973 |
Plant Siting & Environmental Affairs Department created. |
| 1971 |
Environment Agency established. |
1974 |
Operation of first flue-gas desulfurization equipment started. (Hachinohe Thermal PS) |
| 1972 |
United Nations Conference on Human Environment takes place in Stockholm. |
1978 |
Commercial operation of Unit 1 of Kakkonda Geothermal PS started. |
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United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) established. |
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| 1973 |
The first oil crisis occurred. |
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| 1974 |
International Energy Agency (IEA) established. |
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Control of total emissions of SOx implemented. |
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| 1979 |
IEA announces a policy to prohibit energy firms from building new oil-fired power plants. |
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The second oil crisis occurred. |
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| 1981 |
Control of total emissions of NOx implemented. |
1984 |
"International Trade and Industry Minister Prize" awarded for good greening plant. (Akita Thermal PS) |
| 1984 |
Cabinet decision on "Guidelines on Implementation of the Environmental Impact Assessment" made. |
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LNG-fired power generation introduced. (Higashi-Niigata Thermal PS) |
| 1985 |
"Vienna Convention for Protection of the Ozone Layer" adopted. |
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Commercial operation of gas combined cycle started. (Higashi-Niigata Thermal PS 3 System) |
| 1987 |
"Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer" adopted. |
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Unit 1 of Onagawa Nuclear Power Station commences commercial operation. |
| 1988 |
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) formed. |
1985 |
"International Trade and Industry Minister Prize" awarded for good plant of energy management. (New Sendai Thermal PS) |
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"Law Concerning the Protection of the Ozone Layer through the Control of Specified Substances and Other Measures" enacted. |
1986 |
Ranked first among nine Japanese electric power companies in terms of thermal efficiency of thermal power generation equipment in FY1985 (38.60%).
(The first rank maintained until FY1987) |
| 1989 |
"Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal" adopted. |
1987 |
Performance demonstration tests of electric vehicle commenced. (General Research Institute) |
| 1990 |
Cabinet decision on "Action Programme to Arrest Global Warming" made. |
1990 |
"Council to Promote Measures to Cope with Global Environment Issues" formed. |
| 1991 |
"Resource Recycling Law" enacted. |
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Demonstration tests of CO2 removal and sequestration technology commenced. (Sendai Thermal PS) |
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Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren) formulates "Global Environment Charter." |
1992 |
"Global Environment Action Guideline" formulated. |
| 1992 |
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) takes place in Rio de Janeiro ("Rio Declaration" and "Agenda 21" adopted). |
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Internal environmental auditing introduced. |
| 1993 |
"Basic Environment Law" enacted. |
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Demonstration tests of wind power generation (Tappi Wind Park), photovoltaic power generation and fuel cells (Sendai Minami Customer Services Office) commenced. |
| 1994 |
"United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change" takes effect. |
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Heat supply service in the Sendai-Izumi-chuo district started. |
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Cabinet decision on "Basic Environment Plan" made. |
1993 |
"Phase I of Global Environmental Action Plan" commenced. |
| 1995 |
First Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP1) takes place in Berlin. |
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Noshiro Energium Park opens. (Noshiro Thermal PS) |
| 1996 |
Second Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP2) takes place in Geneva. |
1995 |
"Phase II of Global Environmental Action Plan" commenced. |
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The Japan Federation of Electric Power Companies formulates "Environmental Action Plan by the Japanese Electricity Utilities Industry." |
1996 |
Niigata-Sendai gas pipeline completed. |
| 1997 |
Third Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP3) takes place in Kyoto (the "Kyoto Protocol" adopted). |
1997 |
Heat supply service started in the Morioka-eki Nishiguchi district. |
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Keidanren formulates "Voluntary Action Plan on the Environment." |
1998 |
"Phase III of Global Environmental Action Plan" commenced. |
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"Environmental Impact Assessment Law" enacted. |
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"Environmental Policy" formulated. |
| 1998 |
Fourth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP4) takes place in Buenos Aires ("Buenos Aires Plan of Action" adopted). |
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ISO 14001 acquired by Noshiro Thermal Power Station. |
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"Guideline of Measures to Prevent Global Warming" decided. |
1999 |
Operation of Higashi-Niigata Thermal Power Station 4-1 System commenced. |
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"Law Concerning the Promotion of the Measures to Cope with Global Warming" enacted. |
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Capital participation and investment made in tree-planting project in Australia. |
| 1999 |
Fifth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP5) takes place in Bonn. |
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"Law Concerning Special Measures against Dioxins" enacted. |
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"Law Concerning Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) system" enacted. |
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| 2000 |
The World Bank establishes the Prototype Carbon Fund (PCF). |
2000 |
Takes part in the World Bank Prototype Carbon Fund (PCF). |
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Sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP6) takes place in Hague. |
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ISO 14001 acquired by Niigata, Hachinohe, Haramachi and Sendai Thermal Power Stations. |
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"Basic Law for Promoting the Creation of Recycle-Oriented Society" enacted. |
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Internal standard environmental management system introduced. |
| 2001 |
COP6 reopens in Bonn. |
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Tohoku Green Power Fund founded. |
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Seventh Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP7) takes place in Marrakesh. |
2001 |
ISO 14001 acquired by Onagawa Nuclear Power Station, and Higashi-Niigata, Akita and New Sendai Thermal Power Stations.
(ISO 14001 certification given to all of Tohoku EPCo's thermal and nuclear power stations) |
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Ministry of the Environment established to take over operations implemented by Environment Agency. |
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"Mid-Term Environmental Action Plan" formulated. |
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"Law Concerning Special Measures for Promotion of Proper Treatment of PCB Waste" enacted. |
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Environment Minister's Commendation awarded for activities to prevent the global warming in the international contribution category.
("Local electrification demonstration tests" in Vietnam) |
| 2002 |
Johannesburg World Summit for Sustainable Development takes place. |
2002 |
Commercial operation of Unit 3 of Onagawa Nuclear Power Station started. |
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Eighth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP8) takes place in New Delhi. |
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"Green Procurement Guideline" formulated. |
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"Guideline of Measures to Prevent Global Warming" amended ("New Guideline" formulated). |
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Additional investment in the World Bank Prototype Carbon Fund (PCF) made. |
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"Basic Law on Energy Policy Making" enacted. |
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Contract for NEDO's energy conservation model project awarded. (Kazakhstan) |
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"Law Concerning Measures to Cope with Soil Contamination" enacted. |
2003 |
"Waste Management System" introduced. |
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"Law Concerning the Promotion of the Measures to Cope with Global Warming" amended. |
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"Sendai Thermal Power Station Replacement Plan" proposed. |
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The Japanese government ratifies the "Kyoto Protocol." |
2004 |
"Phase II of Mid-Term Environmental Action Plan" formulated. |
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"Law on Special Measures Concerning New Energy Use by Electric Utilities, (RPS(=Renewable Portfolio Standard) Law)" enacted. |
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Environmental Affairs Department created. |
| 2003 |
Ninth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP9) takes place in Milan. |
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Takes part in Japan GHG Reduction Fund (JGRF). |
| 2004 |
Tenth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP10) takes place in Buenos Aires. |
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Unit 1 of Higashidori Nuclear Power Station starts test run. |
| 2005 |
The Kyoto Protocol takes effect. |
2005 |
CO2 credits purchased from CDM project in Honduras. |
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The "Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan" formulated. |
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Participation in "Team Minus 6%" national campaign to control global warming. |
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"Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy" amended. |
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Commercial operation of Unit 1 of Higashidori Nuclear Power Station started. |
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2006 |
CO2 credits purchased from CDM project in China. |
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Participation in joint purchase (TCP) with JCF. |
INDEX
Chronology
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