Why is this important?
Air pollutants other than GHG associated with OMV Petrom operations affect air quality. Air pollutants can have adverse effects on humans and the ecosystem. To prevent any such adverse effects, all operational environmental permits include emission limits where relevant, based on local or EU legislation, accompanied by a monitoring and reporting system. Air pollutants other than GHG include SOx, NOx, CO, particulate matter/dust, non-methane volatile organic compounds (NM-VOC). Odor also causes public concern as a nuisance.
Our commitment
Strategic commitment – Health, safety, security, and protection of the environment have the highest priority in all our activities.
The EMS 14001 is regularly audited for surveillance / recertification.
Environmental training includes air protection.
Dust and odor control during cleaning and remediation works
In 2021, OMV Petrom continued to restore sites that were formerly fuel terminals. The works related to the Project “Cleaning, remediation and ecological reconstruction works of former Suceava oil terminal” in Downstream could generate dust (from excavation, loading, soil treatment on the bioremediation platform and earth fillings) and smell (from hydrocarbon vapors accumulated in the soil). The challenge was to minimize the dust and smell nuisance from a project site located in a sensitive area (with residential neighborhoods). Among the best practices applied we mention the water spray curtain, dust protection nets, forced ventilation, off-site bioremediation of the most contaminated soil, periodical communication with the community and the authorities, solutions agreed with all the relevant local authorities who performed weekly site visits. In addition, we minimized the dust-producing activities in periods of strong wind simultaneously with a more intense wetting of the surfaces as well as covering the surfaces on the on-site biopiles. With respect to odor and dust control during soil excavation and transport, we optimized the transportation routes to minimize nuisance to the community, covered the load, washed the wheels at the site exit to avoid contamination of public roads and sprinkled the access roads on-site.
In Downstream, Petrobrazi Refinery implemented an LDAR Program according to BAT- Reference Documents (BREF). This program’s objective is to reduce fugitive emissions from the plant’s technological equipment (e.g., vents, flanges). In 2021, the program targeted accessible fugitive emissions sources from Tank Farm and Aromatic units. The program also covered the screening of inaccessible sources, where no leaks were detected. The measurements were performed by using the Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) method, which involved an advanced hand-held infrared camera specifically developed for this purpose. 84% from the leakages identified were fixed. This program runs periodically, according to a schedule, in all Petrobrazi installations.
Our 2021 results are presented in the Performance in Detail – Environmental Performance section in this report.
In Petrobrazi Refinery, the tank modernization program continued in 2021 and included installation of internal floating membrane or double sealing for six volatile product tanks and commissioning of one new tank, according to BAT. These measures amounted to EUR 12.5 mn and contributed to the reduction of the environmental impact due to VOCs.
Best practice in controlling and managing odor are to be established according to new-emerging methodologies.
In 2021, we initiated a pilot project to develop the Odor Management Plan for one representative facility within one Asset of Upstream. The pilot project will be finalized in 2022.