Accounting of GHG emissions has helped the company to identify improvement areas and implement emission mitigation measures. Benchmarking studies and energy audits are carried out by various international and national agencies to identify energy saving measures in operating locations and administrative buildings. Thereafter, technology upgradation, automation and energy conservation projects are undertaken to improve operational efficiency. The Company has placed designated energy managers at locations to identify and implement energy conservation measures. Initiatives like ENCON (Energy Conservation), process efficiency improvements, automation, LED lighting etc. have helped the Company to reduce its energy consumption.
Efficiency measures are also driven by statutory / regulatory compliances, e.g. reduction of specific energy consumption (MBN), Perform, Achieve & Trade (PAT) scheme etc.
For IndianOil, emission from Refineries and Naphtha Cracker Unit (NCU) account for more than 90% of the total Company’s emissions. The total GHG emission from IndianOil refineries and NCU in 2018-19 is 18.74 MMTCO2e. The Company undertakes various projects in energy conservation / efficiency, renewable energy, switching to green fuels and tree plantations to reduce its GHG emissions.
ENCON Projects in Refineries
Energy conservation is at the heart of IndianOil's decision regarding technology selection for refinery processes and its operation cycles. Improvements have been made possible through implementation of various energy conservation measures coupled with operational improvement by adopting advanced technology and best operating practices.
Since 2010, benchmarking studies are carried out once every two years under the aegis of Centre for High Technology (CHT), MoP&NG to rank performance of IndianOil Refineries with peer groups and the best in the class refineries worldwide. Identified gaps are bridged through implementation of suitable ENCON (Energy Conservation) measures.
In addition, profitability improvement and optimisation studies are regularly carried out by external agencies such as KBC, Mckinsey, NTPC, etc. as well as by in-house Process Design and Engineering Cell (PDEC) of IOC.
Refinery Performance Improvement Programme (RPIP) implemented by IndianOil, aims at improving the refinery performance in areas like distillate improvement, energy reduction, hydrogen management etc.
ENCON measures implemented in refineries during 2018-19 have potential to save 82,078 SRFT (Standard Refinery Fuel Tonnes) per annum, with an estimated emissions reduction of 255 TMTCO2e. The specific emission from refinery operations have reduced by 12.43% over 2012-13 (base year).
Pipeline Transportation
Pipelines are the most efficient mode of transport for petroleum products, as compared to road and rail. IndianOil avoided 1,329 TMTCO2e of carbon emissions in 2018-19 by transporting 88.5 MMT of crude and finished products through pipeline network instead of rail transport.
Pipeline operations are in-turn being made more efficient by promoting use of engine driven mainline pumping units to electric motor driven pumping units, and use of loop lines.
Energy Efficient Lighting
In an effort to improve its lighting efficiency and reap benefits of significant savings in maintenance costs, monthly electricity bills and emission reduction, IndianOil is promoting LED lights at its locations. IndianOil has implemented a policy guideline to replace all the conventional lights with LED lights. As on 31st March 2019, 4.5 lakh energy efficient LED lights have replaced conventional luminaires.
Automation
IndianOil is upgrading its supply and distribution network to increase productivity, quality of the product, reduce manual intervention, and ensure speed and cost efficient operations. Automation is being undertaken to streamline indenting, optimize liquid stock management across retail network, quicker fill in of tank trucks and ensure safe operations. The initiative also reduces inefficiency related emissions.
Air pollution
Air quality monitoring:-For continuous monitoring of emissions, on line analyzers are installed in refinery stacks. Central / State Pollution Control Boards are provided on-line connectivity of the analyzers, to monitor the emission. Mobile vans and fixed monitoring stations are used to monitor ambient air quality.
Emission control measures:-Measures like tall stacks, use of low sulphur fuel in boilers and heaters, use of low NOx burners, use of sulphur recovery units, flue gas scrubbing, flare gas recovery systems, among others are used to minimize air emissions from operations. Bottom loading facilities are being provided at all new grass root locations with Vapour Recovery system at required locations. Installation of Vapour Recovery System to control fugitive emissions at marketing installations and retail outlets in NCR and NCT is in progress.