Improvements in environmental protection through optimization of production processes a case study

Abstract

© by PSP. Within the project Cleaner production, implemented by Cleaner Production Centre of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, in cooperation with the Serbian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Spatial Planning, financed by the city of Pancevo and under the auspices of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, undertaking of systematic actions and creation of policies has been planned in a company HIP Petrohemija with the aim of enabling realization of activities related to improvement of environmental protection by implementing technological changes in the production process and through better control of waste streams. The aim of the project is to improve raw material and energy efficiency, to minimalise the negative impact of the production cycles on the environment and to make real financial savings at the same time through corporate responsibility. The overall results of the project show that the invested funds have a payback period of 3 a (years) on average, made savings (primarily a decrease in gas consumption of 15,095,000 m3/a) reduce CO2emission by 36,230 t/a, while the energy consumption is reduced for 7 % with the projected production volume increase of 20 % while the project is ongoing. By using HIP Petrohemija as an example, which is a company belonging to a group of bigger consumers of energy and electricity, it is shown that there is a number of options of cleaner production especially when it comes to raw material and energy efficiency as it is an area where substantial saving can be made. The effects of implementation of different options of cleaner production are best seen through reduction of energents, water and electricity consumption and reduction of the negative effect on the environmental quality.