The CLH Group has invested over 35 million euros in environmental projects over the last three years
- The initiatives include measures for protecting biodiversity, improving energy efficiency or reducing consumption, waste and emissions.
The CLH Group invested over 35 million euros in environmental projects over the last three years, for the purpose of using resources and technologies in a more efficient manner and guaranteeing the sustainability of their activities.
Therefore, as part of our efforts to protect the environment, the CLH Group performs regular and systematic environmental assessments via its Environmental Management System, which is subjected to audits to identify points for improvement. Furthermore, the initiatives related to our commitment to the principles of sustainable development in all our activities are regularly monitored.
As for energy efficiency, CLH continues to develop a plan aimed at saving energy and reducing associated emissions through the modernisation of industrial equipment.
With a view to increasing the sustainability of energy consumption at our Spanish facilities, we have undertaken a study to assess the replacement of the lighting in the road tanker loading areas and the perimeter area of the plants with LED lights in order to optimise the lighting at the plants and reduce energy consumption.
Moreover, other initiatives, such as the use of Drag Reducing Agents (DRA) in pipeline transport, have continued, with the development of algorithms for additive dosing, and maximisation of efficiency in the use of pipeline pumping stations. Furthermore, the company has continued to implement the adaptation of boilers to equip them to use fuel oil instead of other heavy fuels.
CLH is also working towards the reduction of waste, emissions and consumption in its operations. Thus, in 2018 a waste reduction of 39.9% was achieved, mainly by reducing the amount of waste from tank cleaning.
As for emissions, although they are already quite limited, as our plants do not perform any transformation processes, CLH continues to implement the signal automation process for the Vapour Recovery Units (VRU) at its facilities. This process enables the company to better analyse the performance of this equipment, thus helping minimise Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions during the road tanker loading process.
Continued monitoring of piezometric networks has also expanded across the CLH Group facilities in Spain. This early warning network represents a safety measure in addition to the control and monitoring actions performed on the underground sensors at the facilities, with the aim of identifying any impact on the subsoil in its early stages, minimising the impact and reducing the cleaning tasks and waste.
Moreover, CLH has carried out other initiatives, such as the reduction of paper consumption at the company's headquarters. This plan has resulted in a 35.7% drop in paper consumption, with a total reduction of 2,729 kg, which equals a reduction of 2 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
CLH also calculates on an annual basis the carbon footprint left by its activities, which helps to identify, design and implement actions aimed at reducing emissions, and to measure the scope and effectiveness of these actions.
As part of its policy for biodiversity protection, the company has a Plan for Identification of High Consequence Areas (HCA) that, by means of specific geographical analysis software, defines environmentally sensitive areas in the vicinity of the pipelines.
CLH has conducted environmental studies in cooperation with GREFA (Group for Rehabilitation of Native Fauna and its Habitat), to measure the integration of its pipelines in these areas with particular biological value. The analyses carried out have found that these infrastructures do not interfere with the development of the animal and plant species, and highlight the integration of these infrastructures in the environment.
Along these lines, the company is also conducting similar analyses to measure the impact of maintenance work on biodiversity along the pipeline in Natural Protected Areas, as well as studies about biodiversity in the vicinity of its storage areas.
All these initiatives have contributed to the successful renewal of the ISO 14001 certification for the company’s facilities for yet another year, thus reinforcing its commitment to the best environmental practices.