CASE STUDY
Minerva – modern ingolstadt emissions reduction via amine
As communicated in previous editions of the sustainability report, Gunvor invested in sulfur dioxide emission reduction and committed to compliance with changing regulatory requirements at its Ingolstadt refinery.
With selected licensed technology, the sulfur dioxide is separated from the flue gas and converted into elementary sulfur in the existing sulfur recovery unit. Thus, emissions are transformed into a valuable chemical raw material for the industry while at the same time feed resource requirements, waste and wastewater streams are minimized.
Technology is implemented through five process units, built in four areas: Fluid Catalytic Cracking unit (FCC) Scrubber, Amine Regeneration with Tail Gas Treatment (TGT+), Amine Supply Area (ASA) and Fluid Catalytic Cracking unit (FCC) Sludge Dewatering.
The engineering and initial construction phases were followed in 2023 with construction of main concrete (~2,300m3 ) and steel (~900 t) structures, erection of equipment and machinery (52 pcs.), piping works (~9,000m) as well as installation of electrical (~3,000 kVA) and instrumentation equipment (~520 measurements).
One of the highlights, the main tower T-1970 with diameter of 5.8m and height of 34m, with chimney (diameter 2m and height 38m) weighs approx. 120 t. Installed on a concrete structure, T-1970 has a total height of approx. 83m.
The project was developed and executed under the lead of our own refinery team, supported by the licensor and EPCM engineering company. Suppliers from the U.S., Asia and Europe delivered equipment and materials under extremely difficult conditions due to supply chain issues following COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine. The on-site performance of construction workers, who had to operate inside the area of existing production units, was also extraordinary: which had to work inside the area of existing production units.
At the start of 2024, the final phase of construction will take place. Once the construction is complete, the refinery staff will undergo training, and initial tests will be conducted. The commissioning of the refinery is planned for the second quarter of 2024.
Spills
In the oil industry, monitoring spills larger than a barrel into the environment, specifically into unprotected soil or water, is a crucial environmental indicator. Gunvor has historically implemented a series of proactive measures aimed at minimizing these incidents. The effectiveness of these measures was evident in 2023, as Gunvor’s facilities successfully maintained the count of such spills at zero.
Clearlake’s shipping operations experienced two uncontained spills: one due to a damaged cargo hose that released approximately 10 liters onto the manifold, dockside, and into the sea; the other occurred during a sludge and bilge disposal by the sludge barge “Sea Star”. Following the latter incident, all discharging was halted for investigation, and the port authority was notified.
Substances of concern and substances of very high concern
Substances of Concern
Substances of Concern (SC) are considered those substances that meet the
following classifications according to the European CLP regulation (which
implements the globally harmonized system of the United Nations for the
classification and labeling of chemicals):
or the following classification according to the European Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation:
Gunvor trades many petroleum products and the following fuels meet the criteria listed above with respect to carcinogenicity (Carc.), mutagenicity (Muta.) or Reprotoxicity (Repr.):
(Category 1B stands for presumed, category 2 for suspected)
In addition, feedstocks such as crude oil and naphtha and certain refinery intermediate streams also meet the criteria listed above.
For an impression of the quantities of the traded Substances of Concern we refer to information in the business sections of the annual report.
It should be kept in mind that a classification like presumed carcinogen does not mean that the substance poses a risk during normal use. The classification is based on intrinsic hazardous properties as determined with e.g. animal testing and not on risk assessment. Risk Management Measures are designed and prescribed to keep the exposure within acceptable limits. For example, the gasoline we sell is to be used as fuel. During such use, there is no exposure to the substance that could result in a relevant risk. The allowed uses and the appropriate risk management measures are communicated to clients by means of Safety Data Sheets.
Currently none of our products are classified as Endocrine Disruptive or as Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic.
Substances of Very High Concern
Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) are considered those substances that are included in Annex XIV of the REACH regulation (substances subject to authorization) or substances on the candidate list for inclusion in that annex, published and regularly updated by the European Chemicals Agency.
Gunvor does not trade such substances.
However, some of the products we trade may contain SVHC as constituents in low concentrations. In particular, heavier oil products such as fuel oil contain Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH). This group consists of thousands of different constituents and some of them are on the SVHC list. Under normal use as fuel, this presence does not result in significantly elevated environmental or health risks if the appropriate risk management measures are applied.
Water and marine resources
Actions and resources related to water and marine resources
Gunvor ensures that its water usage does not impact water-stressed or scarce regions, adhering strictly to local regulations. The company’s commitment to environmental stewardship extends to its wastewater management practices, where wastewater undergoes treatment at on-site facilities before discharge. This process is rigorously monitored, with the effluent’s quality maintained within authorized limits. When there is an exceedance, it is reported and treated as an incident with an investigation carried out to prevent recurrence.
A key metric Gunvor monitors in its wastewater is the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), which reflects the level of organic pollutants in the water. These data, along with other relevant measurements, is regularly reported to local authorities in compliance with Gunvor’s environmental permits. The organization maintains transparency by reporting any exceedances internally on a monthly basis.
In 2023, the total volume of water discharged by Gunvor was consistent with the previous year, totaling 1.5 million cubic meters, reflecting the company’s steady operational output and sustained commitment to responsible water management.