• Climate change
• Water management
• Waste management
• Preventing spills
• Air Emissions

Water Management

As part of our water management improvement, last year several studies were made and significant technological developments were accomplished. Thanks to efforts made in previous years we achieved a further reduction in water consumption and wastewater discharge.

Water withdrawal

Total water withdrawal amounted to 112 million m3 in 2008, where our refineries in Hungary and Slovakia accounted for more than 80% of withdrawal.

Total water withdrawal by source in 2008 [th m³]: 

We have realised that we can reduce the surface water intake from river Danube at Slovnaft Bratislava Refinery by connecting four other units to the circulated cooling water system. An air-cooling system in hydrogenation unit No. 6 was also installed resulting in further decrease of water consumption. The new boiler plant laid 7% extra claim of fresh water of the total consumption at the Duna Refinery in Százhalombatta (HU). At Tisza Refinery in Tiszaújváros (HU) the rainwater collected on site was recycled at a ratio of 65% of the incoming freshwater. At Zala Refinery in Zalaegerszeg (HU) the freshwater demand increased by 9% due to the expanded bitumen raw material processing in the bitumen plant. We voluntary reduced our drinking water intake permitted by the local authority from 1.35 million to 0.7 million m3 at TVK in Tiszaújváros. Due to an energy rationalisation program launched in 2006 at our Exploration and Production unit, we have managed to reduce our energy use and water consumption. We managed to cut down on freshwater intake at the Pakistani exploration and production sites by 25%, and we also established a freshwater well in Kazakhstan after acquiring permission from local authorities.

Water discharge

The total volume of water discharged was 91.2 million m3 in 2008, and it was discharged mainly into surface waters (rivers Danube and Tisza in Hungary are the most affected).

Total water discharge in 2008 [th m³]:

As part of the efficiency improvement at the wastewater treatment unit of Slovnaft Refinery a fine bubble aeration system was implemented and basins of mechanical and biological stage were covered. In order to protect the aquatic environment with the stream of river Tisza from accidental contaminations we employ lagoons as a buffer zone and a polishing treatment for effluent discharged from Tisza Refinery. To comply with the future regulations of stricter emission limit for chemical oxygen demand (COD) of discharged effluent in the watershed of Lake Balaton, a technological development was commenced in Zala Refinery.
Quality characterization of refinery final effluents is regularly conducted according to our self-detection plans accepted by the authorities. The total amount of emitted water pollutants was decreased compared to the previous year. In 2008 according to our self-detection in TVK petrochemical plant, all the parameters of the discharged effluent met the emission limits.

At the Exploration and Production units similar to the water consumption recent results show a decrease in wastewater discharge. In compliance with the environmental authorities, we have introduced a more environmental friendly technology that separates associated water from hydrocarbons and re-injects them into the deep reservoirs. To minimise the risk of contamination, we operate about 500 water monitoring wells close to our Hungarian sites and apply satellite technology. This system also enables us to assess impacts of our operations on soil and groundwater.
Whilst preparing for the legal actions to be taken within ten years, Logistics has started the reconstruction of wastewater systems in Pécs and Szajol base depots (HU).
Our Retail division surveyed the possibilities for reduction in water consumption at the filling stations (rainwater recycling, dry urinals), and in order to meet the local legislative requirements, emergency tanks were installed at 25 filling stations in Slovakia.