Japanese engineering companies Kanadevia and Nippon Steel Engineering agreed to explore merging their businesses to meet future demand growth for waste management and waste-to-energy plants.
Kanadevia and Nippon Steel's wholly owned subsidiary Nippon Steel Engineering signed the initial agreement on 5 February to explore a possible merger by April 2027. The companies aim to finalise their decision by November 2026.
Kanadevia and Nippon Steel Engineering expect demand for waste management plants in Japan to grow because of the many domestic plants that are ageing, which will require renewal. The companies also forecast a rise in demand for waste-to-energy plants overseas — especially in growing markets like north America and southeast Asia — given the drive towards decarbonisation.
Kanadevia has expanded its decarbonisation businesses, including to waste-to-energy plants and hydrogen- and ammonia-related products. Kanadevia's Switzerland-based green technology subsidiary Kanadevia Inova added 11 UK biogas plants to its portfolio after buying low-carbon asset management firm Iona Capital.
Kanadevia plans to start commercial operations of its plant, which will produce polymer-electrolyte-membrane water electrolyser stacks, in the April 2028-March 2029 fiscal year. It also plans to invest in building production facilities for ammonia-fuelled ship engines, aiming to begin operations in 2028-29.
Kanadevia will sell 25pc of its stake in its subsidiary Hitachi Zosen Marine Engine by the end of March 2026. Kanadevia expects to own 40pc, while Japan's major shipbuilder Imabari Shipbuilding will raise its share from 35pc to 60pc after the sale. The move is intended to speed up the development of ammonia-fuelled ship engines by allowing Imabari Shipbuilding to lead the project.
