Nippon Steel expands geothermal business abroad

Foresees geothermal sales of US$49 million in 2015.

Nippon Steel & Sumikin Engineering Company, a subsidiary of Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation, Japan’s largest steelmaker, plans to expand its business to other countries such as Indonesia.

Ryuichi Kageyama, general manager for the geothermal power business, said the company also plans to enter plant operation, maintenance services and power retailing.

Nippon Steel & Sumikin has supplied steam production equipment and pipelines for nine of the 17 geothermal stations currently operating in Japan.

Japanese companies are renewing their interest in geothermal energy after the March 2011 nuclear crisis shut down reactors.