Small-scale geothermal power developer in Japan_NUMATO, Shioji_2.pptx

Small-scale geothermal power developer in Japan

1. SHOJI NUMATO Kobe Bussan Co., Ltd. 1981 Founder SHIOJI NUMATO is now pushing geothermal power development in Japan with first plant to go online in 2024 in Waita , Kumamoto Prefecture

2. KOBE BUSSAN CO., LTD. KOBE BUSSAN CO., LTD. : The company engages in the supermarket business. It operates through the following business segments: GYOMU SUPERMARKET : The Gyomu Supermarket segment handles franchise contracting, private and national brand products, and sale of food products for overseas and domestic areas. KOBE COOK : The Kobe Cook segment operates buffet restaurants and small-sized shops providing ready-made meals. COOK INNOVENTURE: The Cook Innoventure segment manages sushi and izakaya shops, and English conversation and tutorial schools. ECO RENEWABLE ENERGY : The Eco Renewable Energy segment includes solar power project and provides electric power, and Others. OTHERS : The Others segment deals with equipment rental, tourism, and Galleon businesses. The company was founded by SHOJI NUMATAOin April 1981 and is headquartered in Kako , Japan.

3. HIROKAZU NUMATO In recent years Mr. Numato passed the baton to his son, HIROKAZU, and invested JPY 10 billion (ca USD 75 million) in his own funds to launch a geothermal power generation business. The 5 MW Ogunu -machi project at Waita-san in Kumamoto Prefecture is expected to start operation in 2024. Mr. Numato is cognizant of the fact that t he energy self-sufficiency rate of the United States is 104.4%, China’s is 80.2%, but Japan’s is only 12% (International Energy Agency survey, 2019). He laments about this situation.

4. The NUMATO MISSION Mr. Shoji Numato : “Hokkaido, Tohoku, and Kyushu are promising areas for geothermal power generation in Japan, but Kyushu is the most suitable region for geothermal power generation. There is a lot of steam necessary for geothermal heat in relatively shallow strata. The reason why we are working on geothermal power generation is because we believe that we must do it now for the sake of the next generation of children in Japan who are facing energy problems.”

5. THE NUMATO STRATEGY Sensing the potential limits of a listed company in funding his development program in geothermal power, he decided to launch his own new company,  MACHIOKOSHI ( Translated TOWN REVITALIZATION ENERGY). Mr. Numata , who started the new unlisted company, focused on cost reduction in his second challenge. In a recent press release, it was reported that MACHIOKOSHI has already obtained permission for 30 locations nationwide.

6. Kobe Bussan Co. Ltd. 3038 (Japan: Tokyo)