Komatsu Develops a New Demining Machine and Begins Assistance to Remove Unexploded Ordnance in Laos

Komatsu Ltd. (President and CEO: Tetsuji Ohashi) has expanded the scope of alliance with Japan Mine Action Service (Chairman: Ryuichiro Arakawa, hereinafter "JMAS"), a certified specific non-profit organization of Japan, concerning the removal of anti-personnel landmines to include assistance for removal of unexploded ordnance(UXO) in Laos, which began in August this year. This move follows Komatsu's assistance for the landmine removal projects undertaken in Cambodia and Angola since 2008.

In spite of the fact that a massive amount of unexploded ordnance remains in over 30% of the land in Laos, the disposal work has not been active to date, resulting in the reports of related fatal accidents and injuries every year. Since 2006 JMAS has continued to make dedicated efforts to dispose of UXO, but has faced the dangerous and time-consuming condition of manual work.

To work around this condition, Komatsu has developed a new demining machine based on a hydraulic excavator, whereas conventional demining machines are based on a bulldozer. The new demining machine is equipped with special buckets capable of breaking up UXO cluster submunitions which are covered with hard metal. It is also versatile, allowing for its use in bush cutting and ground leveling. Through charge-free lending of its demining machine to JMAS, Komatsu is committed to promoting quick disposal of UXO in order to help change Laos's land to a safe place.

1. New demining machine

2. Ceremony

3. Related URLs

1) Komatsu's assistance for demining of anti-personnel landmines and community reconstruction
http://www.komatsu.com/CompanyInfo/csr/2016/citizenship/citizenship07.html
2) JMAS' activities
http://jmas-ngo.jp/english-home

Information in the news releases is current on the date of the announcement and is subject to change without notice.

2016/08/31

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