Indorama’s Facility Runs Closed System, Doesn’t Emit Soot, Says Nkwocha

Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited (IPCL), has stated that its facility does not emit soot as it runs a closed system that does not allow incomplete combustion.

Nkwocha said that the company was proactive on issues that could affect its production and the environment and will never carrying out operations that will contravene WHO’s standards or that would be inimical to the health of  Nigerians.

Besides, he noted that the company’s activities are always monitored by both the Federal and State Ministries of Environment, the National Environmental Standards and other Regulations Enforcement Agencies, pointing out that these agencies audit the firm’s activities on a quarterly bases.

“These third party agents do quarterly audit of our facilities to ensure that we comply with standards and applicable legal requirements.

“In fact, the ambient air quality is measured in six locations within the company complex and four locations in the host communities.

“Indorama has received five safety award and sword of honour award from the British Safety Council after audit,” he said.

According to him, although, there was no accusation against the company on emission of soot, the management decided to take a proactive step to explain that the company did not generate soot in its operation.

“We have taken this pain to bring journalists from different media to see for themselves, and we have shown you all our fertiliser and petrochemical operations.

“This is to show you that we are an open book, and that Indorama operations do not emit soot whatsoever; we have a closed system, and it doesn’t allow any extraneous gas to escape,” he said.

“So, as explained in the control room, soot can only occur here in these facilities when combustion is incomplete, but because we operate a close system, combustion is always complete.

“Again, we cannot do anything that will cause loss to us because incomplete combustion means hydrocarbon that we buy as raw material is not used up,” he said.

Nkwocha disclosed that Indorama had three international certifications on environmental health and safety: ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, insisting that the company could not afford to lower its standard and lose the certificates from the British Safety Council, that has to do with Quality Management System (QMS).

“ISO 9001 has to do with meeting customer’s satisfaction and continuous improvement in QMS; ISO 14001 deals with prevention of pollution and reduction of environmental impact of our activities.

“ISO 45001 covers prevention of injuries and ill-health, reduction of accidents, continuous improvement of occupational health and safety requirements.

“All the three certificates contain provision for continuous compliance with applicable legal requirements,” he stated.