CASE STUDY
Preserving local animal populations
In a continuous effort to minimize the environmental impact of the refinery on its surroundings, Gunvor Refinery Ingolstadt (GRI), invested several thousand euros into a new project to boost biodiversity and support its local wildlife.
The refinery has already been a place to observe different birds such as nuthatches, redstarts or tits and even the occasional falcon can be found on top of its large chimneys. During the night, bats can be seen flying around the refinery. On the ground, hedgehogs, weasels, cats and dormice are among the animals that call the refinery their home.
To further support these animals and offer them safe spaces to nest and rest, external experts were invited to the refinery to take a look at its site and consult on useful ways to support the local ecosystem.
The refinery’s area amounts to around 155ha, of which large parts are open spaces with grass, shrubs and trees. On 19 June 2023, Mr. Gerhard Halsner from the Federal Nature Conservation Associaton (“Bund Naturschutz”) and Mr. Peter Wankerl, State Bat Advisor from the State Association for Bird Protection (“Landesbund für Vogelschutz”), visited the refinery to help identify the best ways to utilize the available space. The HSQE-Manager and environmental officer, Uwe Bernhard, and member of the environmental department, Anna Ernst, showed Mr. Halsner and Mr.Wankerl around the refinery, pointing out existing bird nests and potential areas to place new ones. Afterwards they sat together to discuss the best types of boxes (summer, winter, all-year houses), which animals take which kind of box, where to place them and when to clean them.
Based on their expertise, already existing birdhouses were taken down to be cleaned and refurbished by an external partner before placing them in better areas. An additional 12 bird nest boxes, 16 bat houses, 1 insect box and 1 dormouse house were strategically placed all around the refinery in a bid to offer more living spaces to these animals. A program was set up to assure yearly maintenance of the houses and boxes, so the animals will always be sure to find clean and robust covers when returning the next year. It is also a good way to see which houses were occupied and if they need to be placed differently in the future – steadily improving their usefulness.
We expect to see a great acceptance of the shelters from the local wildlife and will continue to work on initiatives to further improve the impact of the refinery on its surroundings.
Targets in relation to biodiversity and ecosystems
We have set targets in relation to environmental emissions and pollution (see the respective sections). These targets also serve the purpose of protection of biodiversity and ecosystems.
Currently we do not have defined targets that address biodiversity and ecosystems specifically, as we have assessed the associated impacts and risks as not being material.
Metrics in relation to biodiversity and ecosystems
We report metrics in relation to environmental emissions and pollution (see the respective sections). These metrics also serve the purpose of protection of biodiversity and ecosystems.
Currently we do not report metrics that are designed to address biodiversity and ecosystems specifically, as we have assessed the associated impacts and risks as not being material.
Anticipated financial effects
The financial effects of our biodiversity and ecosystem-related risks and opportunities are currently not considered material.
Resource use and circular economy
Waste management
Gunvor is dedicated to reducing waste and improving recycling and reuse throughout its operations. By following the third National Waste Management Plan (LAP3), GER adopts a strict waste management hierarchy, focusing on prevention, reuse, recycling, recovery, and proper disposal. This method is embedded in the refinery’s operations, with a strong emphasis on training staff and appointing a waste coordinator to ensure adherence to environmental standards and the company’s sustainability objectives.
Gunvor Biodiesel Huelva (GBH) is registered as a producer of non-hazardous and a small quantity of hazardous waste. GBH maintains stringent standards for hazardous waste management, using correctly labeled and well-maintained containers for storage. The disposal process, handled by certified managers approved by the Junta de Andalucia, aligns with environmental regulations, guaranteeing that waste is reused, recycled, or effectively recovered. Similar ways of waste management take place at our other sites.
Actions and resources related to resource use and circular economy
Gunvor biodiesel plants in Spain already fit into a circular economy model. Waste material, such as used cooking oil, becomes valuable low-carbon fuels.
Gunvor petroleum refineries contribute to the Energy Transition by means of developing plans for producing low-carbon liquid fuels. Some of the plans that have been developed include:
The graph provides information on the waste quantities in the last five years. The quantities vary considerably. Soil remediation and demolition projects generate significant quantities. These factors explain the variation of waste quantities, and as much as Gunvor develops approaches to minimize and optimize waste generation, some quantities are unavoidable. Gunvor’s waste management is focused on separation into various types of waste and selecting the appropriate destination for each category with the help of specialized contractors. This work is heavily regulated in order to protect the environment and all waste is transported to licensed waste-processing sites.
In 2023, Gunvor initiated a new practice across its sites, beginning to report the percentages of recyclable waste, a critical measure for evaluating the recyclability of our waste streams. Moving forward, we remain dedicated to maintaining and improving recyclable waste percentages, contributing to responsible waste management practices.
Yearly Waste Quantities
About this graph: The waste quantities at the industrial sites increased in 2023 compared with 2022. This is caused by the significant quantities of soil being removed at our Rotterdam site.
Sustainable decommissioning
The Antwerp refinery, acquired in 2012 and operated by Gunvor and its predecessors since 1968, permanently shut down in 2022. In order to prepare the site for a new future, without leaving a rusty legacy, Gunvor decided to demolish the refinery units.
Sustainability was an important factor in the preparation and execution phase, as the refinery units contained various hazardous materials, such as petroleum residues and asbestos. In addition, significant waste streams would result from the demolition and the goal was to separate the different materials for recycling to ensure sustainable execution.
This ambitious project illustrates Gunvor’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental protection. Gunvor manages the project, working closely with the executing contractor Koole to carry out the decommissioning of the refinery in a sustainable manner.
One of the most notable aspects of this approach is the use of versatile equipment, such as large cranes with cutting shears, to carefully dismantle the refinery with a focus on material recycling. Supervised by Gunvor, Koole carefully sorts each component of the installation, allowing a significant portion of the materials to be reused. This not only contributes to reducing waste but also reduces the pressure on natural resources and lowers CO 2 emissions.
Another feature of the selected approach is the utilization of controlled explosives to bring down certain structures such as tall chimneys, furnaces, and high columns. This strategy enables subsequent dismantling in a safe and responsible manner, facilitating material separation for recycling.
Gunvor’s commitment to sustainability is also evident in the responsible handling of soil contamination during the removal of underground installations. All foundations and underground pipes and cables up to a depth of two meters are removed as part of the decommissioning. This enables restoration of the site and demonstrates Gunvor’s commitment to minimizing environmental impacts.
The pre-project phase, where the installation was safely shut down and prepared for decommissioning, also highlights Gunvor’s proactive approach to sustainability. By starting the chemical cleaning of the installation six months in advance, Gunvor demonstrated its dedication to thorough decommissioning.
