GPIC making a difference

Manama : Greenhouse gas emissions, as well as its carbon footprint, are one of the biggest challenges the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company faces when trying to invest in environmental sustainability, said GPIC in its third GRI Sustainability Report 2016. 

The report, compiled according to the GRI G4 guidelines, shares GPIC’s performance on social progress, environmental protection and economic growth. 

“Our biggest environmental challenge is the location of our facilities, which is surrounded by sea, neighbouring facilities and the residential communities,” the report says.

GPIC has implemented projects such as the urea plant and the carbon dioxide recovery plant that have reduced the company’s carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon Dioxide Recovery (CDR) plant commissioned in 2009, captures 450 MT/Day of CO2 from methanol reformer flue gases and recycles back. The report further points out that the greatest environmental impact is from GHGs emitted during the production of ammonia and methanol along with the emissions from fossil fuel fired boilers and gas turbines.

The report confirms GPIC has reduced its GHG emissions and improved energy efficiency significantly since the commissioning of first ammonia and methanol plants in 1985. 

With energy efficiency being a corporate priority, GPIC said it has opted to go for ISO50001 certification in 2015. Among several energy goals, GPIC has a very ambitious project in place to replace all the conventional lights with LEDs and also to provide solar energy to its buildings outside process areas.

“For 2016 and beyond, our aim is to ensure a business that is resilient and adaptable to the needs of all our stakeholders. We believe the only way forward for corporate sustainability is through leadership, collaboration and innovation. Only by doing this we can make a difference, said GPIC President Dr Abdulrahman Jawahery.