Capital expenditure on tasks related to environmental protection in the ORLEN Production Plant in Płock in 2010 amounted to over PLN 148 mln, whereas at fuel stations – to over PLN 47 mln, i.e. 46% more compared to 2009. In the following years the Company will continue activities aimed at protecting environment, increasing power and balancing the energy needs of PKN ORLEN.
The separate Environmental Protection Office, established in December 2009, dedicated to fulfil environmental objectives of the Company, carried out various voluntary initiatives and programmes. Operations of the Office also brought measurable quality effects in the scope of fulfilment of obligations imposed by the law. The Office carried out operational duties regarding environmental conditions of functioning of the plant in Płock and supervised content-related works of ORLEN Prewencja conducting tasks for terminals and fuel stations. An important new element was the implementation of activities coordinating environmental questions within the operations of the Capital Group. These activities resulted in development of the first “Environmental report of ORLEN Capital Group”.
Despite the unfavourable macroeconomic situation, the Company fulfilled tasks resulting from environmental programmes as well as investment tasks. The most important of them included:
Construction of some of the mentioned units has been already completed, while in the case of others commissioning works are still being performed.
One of the important events was commencement of works on the construction of a new gas turbine powered by natural gas – so called “blue fuel” characterised by the lowest emission indicators.
Another challenge that faces the Company in the scope of environmental protection is adjustment of the Combined Heat and Power Plant to requirements established for such types of sources in the Directive on industrial emissions of 24 November 2010. Works on modernisation of the CHP plant have to be completed by 2016.
In 2010 there was the first review of integrated permits for the Company’s units required by law. The review conducted by the Marshal Office of Masovian Voivodeship brought positive results. Units covered by the CO2 emission allowances trading system obtained positive verifications of reports for 2010, and the Company holds allowances in the number corresponding to verified CO2 emissions.
Another important event was receipt in June 2010 of the integrated permit for a new production unit for production of tetraphthalic acid in Włocławek.
In 2010, the Company reported a slight increase in total emissions to the atmosphere as compared to the previous year caused mainly by extreme weather conditions in the 1st and the 2nd quarter of 2010. Necessity to produce heat by the CHP plant for the Company’s own needs as well as other industrial recipients and Płock resulted in an increased amount of consumed fuel.
Load of sewage discharged to the Vistula also went up due to an increase of 28% of rainwater and drainage sewage caused by strong rainfall and high groundwater level. Despite recorded increases emissions did not exceed amounts specified in the allowances, and the Company did not record any exceeded standards of air quality in continuous emission measurements.
The year 2010 was the period of intensified activities regarding implementation of the Responsible Care (RC) Programme. The Company implemented the Framework Responsible Care Management System being the consequence of the Global Responsible Care Support Declaration signed by PKN ORLEN in 2007. The objective of the System is to introduce the mechanism for cyclical self-assessment of the Company in the area of broadly understood safety and integration of principles of the Responsible Care Programme with commercial processes, e.g. product management, transport of raw materials and products. The compliance assessment audit, carried out at the turn of 2010 and 2011, confirmed implementation of the system on the level allowing the jury to award the Certificate of implementation of the Framework Responsible Care Management System compliant with guidelines of the CRFIC (European Chemical Industry Council).
Under the Responsible Care Programme the Company implemented 43 projects, the most popular one among employees being the next, fourth edition of the photo competition “Catch the hare”, aimed at promoting the beauty of nature. Award winning photos were sent to the national stage where employees from all companies taking part in the Responsible Care Programme compete.
Two photos sent by PKN ORLEN employees were distinguished on the national stage. All award-winning photos were presented in the 2011 calendar published by the Programme Secretariat.
Tasks undertaken by the Company in 2010 in the scope of environmental protection were distinguished by two important environmental awards:
Air Protection
According to the control measurements carried out by the Company and authorised auditing bodies in 2010, the top emission limits set out in the Integrated Permit were not exceeded by the refinery and petrochemical facilities in Płock.
Pollutant emissions from the production plant in Płock in 2009–2010 [mg]
| 2009 | 2010 | increase/decrease | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sulphur dioxide | 20 975,23 | 22 381,42 | 1 406,19 | 6,70% |
| Nitrogen monoxide (as per nitrogen dioxide) | 7 124,27 | 8 460,74 | 1 336,47 | 18,76% |
| Carbon monoxide | 1 010,87 | 1 309,07 | 298,2 | 29,50% |
| Total hydrocarbons | 1 238,12 | 1 412,07 | 173,95 | 14,05% |
| Fuel combustion dust | 399,75 | 509,65 | 109,9 | 27,49% |
| Carbon dioxide | 6 126 894,42 | 6 351 440,32 | 224 545,90 | 3,67% |
| Other pollutants | 370,05 | 370,99 | 0,94 | 0,25% |
| Total pollutant emission | 6 158 012,71 | 6 385 884,25 | 227 871,54 | 3,70% |
In 2010, PKN ORLEN Group companies undertook various measures to reduce their environmental impact.
ANWIL
Ceska Rafinerska
ORLEN Asfalt
ORLEN Centrum Serwisowe – servicing centre
ORLEN Eko
ORLEN Lietuva
ORLEN Oil
ORLEN PetroCentrum
ORLEN Transport
ORLEN Wir
Paramo
Petrolot
Rafineria Nafty Jedlicze
IKS “Solino”
Unipetrol RPA
ORLEN Group's brands
