| Caring for the environment |
Air Emissions
Our overall air emissions dropped by almost 17% compared to the previous years thanks to the series of projects aimed at decreasing our environmental impact.
In 2008 the energy rationalisation program at Exploration and Production division continued. Steam heating systems were replaced with hot water boilers and the auxiliary hot water technology units were de-commissioned at certain sites. The Exploration and Production division share in the Group VOC emission reduction has been delivered mostly by its Russian operation ZMB, as a consequence of its decreased oil production compared to 2007.
Thanks to the completion of some previously started new investments in Duna Refinery, we have decreased the SO2 and PM (Particulate Matter) emissions. The main contributors to the reduction were Bitumen Plant reconstruction, construction of ESP (Electrostatic Precipitator) at FCC (Fluid Catalytic Cracking) Plant and increasing the sulphur recovery capacity. We also decommissioned sludge depot in Slovnaft Refinery, which was a significant source of VOC. In 2008 administrative actions were ongoing in Slovnaft for power plant upgrade.
VOC emissions at Logistics division were reduced by installation of new vapour recovery units (VRUs) at several depots and by the replacement of wet (glycol) technology VRUs by dry technology at Pécs and Szajol base depots in Hungary.
At Petrochemicals division, TVK we have upgraded the quench oil discharger and pre-heater into a closed system to eliminate problems with VOC emissions.
We fight with VOC along the whole production and marketing chain and our retail stations as well. All newly built and reconstructed filling stations have been equipped with 1st and 2nd level vapour recovery unit in order to minimize the VOC emissions generated during storage and sale of fuels.
At Natural Gas Transmission division (FGSZ, Hungary) we operate all gas turbines in the so called solo-NOX system – with reduced NOX and CO emissions. For air protection and energy efficiency purposes the reconstruction program of gas heating technology has been started at approximately 400 gas delivery stations. The heating systems are to be changed to condensing boilers with higher thermal efficiency.
