Doha: Industries Qatar (IQ) and its group companies are implementing several initiatives to minimise their environmental impacts. The initiatives also include establishing near zero liquid discharge plant, according to the Sustainability Report released by IQ. Qatar Steel and Qatar Fuel Additives Company Limited (QAFAC) are setting up a near zero liquid discharge plants with an aim of reducing discharge, reusing and increasing recycling rate of processed water in the production process and to reduce freshwater consumption.
“The Group implements world-class standards to achieve our commitment and dedication to IQ’s vision of a sustainable future,” said Industries Qatar’s Chairman and Managing Director, H E Saad Sherida Al Kaabi in the Sustainability Report 2020. “We have major in-progress initiatives to reduce environmental impacts which include projects such as Near Zero Liquid Discharge/Zero Liquid Discharge (NZLD/ZLD) programs to recycle process wastewaters. The Group has embarked on a journey to implement a world-class Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Accounting and Reporting (A&R) program in line with QatarEnergy approved procedure for GHG emissions,” he added.
Industries Qatar yesterday released its first sustainability report. Through sustainability reporting IQ exhibits its dedication to transparency and constructive engagement with internal and external stakeholders, providing them with informative summaries about the impact of IQ’s business on economic, environmental, social and governance aspects. The report includes ESG related disclosures for the four group companies that include Qatar Fertiliser Company (QAFCO), Qatar Petrochemical Company (QAPCO), Qatar Steel Company (QS) and Qatar Fuel Additives Company Limited (QAFAC).
Qatar Steel is in the process of construction of a NZLD plant, said the Sustainability Report. Once commissioned, plants with NZLD efficiencies will operate with significantly reduced volumes of Processed Waste water (TIW) and brine discharges into the sea. Near Zero liquid discharge (NZLD) is an engineering approach to water treatment where 88 percent process waste water is recovered and contaminants are reduced to solid waste.
To manage its wastewater – in essence, oily wastewater, process wastewater and demineralised wastewater, QAFAC is establishing a near zero liquid discharge plant, which will have systems in place to upgrade wastewater to potable water grade.
The plant is expected be operational by end of 2023 and recover 85 percent of its wastewater so that it can be utilized as make-up water to demineralized water plant.
To achieve and sustain the minimization of environmental impacts QAFCO has embarked on a journey of implementing several environmental projects. One such project is Installation of Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (CEMS) to monitor the quality and content of emissions released to the ambient environment. QAFCO has also embarked on a journey to implement environmental projects such as Zero Liquid Discharge to Sea.
Group companies adopt comprehensive procedures for identification, segregation, collection, and disposal of waste generated from operations. A summary of all waste shipments for non-hazardous wastes is reported to Ministry of Municipality and Environment periodically, noted the report. Hazardous waste is stored at an approved hazardous waste storage facility and disposed locally by the third parties within the coverage of disposal contracts. Studies are also conducted to evaluate various options to reuse / recycle the production waste such as in the case of Qatar Steel, Palletizing DR product dust and EF dust, recycling of refractory bricks and extracting iron from slag are one of many examples of Qatar Steel’s salient achievements.
The Group recognizes the importance of reducing energy consumption in order to minimize the environmental impacts as well as increase company’s operational efficiency. The group uses natural gas as a primary energy source in its operations producing steel, Fertilizers and petrochemical products (which constitutes 96 percent of total energy consumption by the group) which is cleaner and more environmentally friendly than the other method of generating energy.
The Group continues to invest in environmental projects to optimize and efficiently use natural resources and reduce the generation of emissions, effluents, and waste. Through such capital investments, the group’s aim is to improve the environmental performance of operations, while enhancing the reliability and safety of operations.
