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Environmental Management

Due to the nature of its operations, OMV has an impact on the environment. The Group strives to minimize that impact at all times, particularly in terms of spills, energy efficiency, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as well as water and waste management. OMV aims to optimize processes to use natural resources as efficiently as possible and to reduce emissions and discharges.

In 2021, there were 3 major hydrocarbon spills (level 3 out of five levels; 2020: 2). The total volume of hydrocarbon spilled increased compared to the previous year. OMV continues to improve its oil spill response preparedness and capabilities.

Key environmental actions and achievements in 2021:

  • Our operations in Yemen implemented new water management plans. The wastewater treatment plants were upgraded, now allowing the treated water to be used for irrigation in a very arid environment.
  • At the Schwechat refinery, more than 800,000 m3/year of water, which is equivalent to more than 5% of average annual water consumption, are being conserved, most of it from a new control concept for the cooling water in a heat exchanger group in the ethylene plant.
  • At the Petrobrazi refinery, the tank modernization program continued with the installation of internal floating membranes or double sealing of six product tanks and the commissioning of one new tank, contributing to the reduction of volatile oganic compounds (VOC).
  • OMV Petrom completed the surface abandonment of 718 wells and 30 facilities in the E&P division. A total of 184,000 of contaminated soil were treated in our bioremediation plants, and 14,500 t of metallic scrap were recycled by authorized companies.
  • The modernization of the Ghercești tank farm at Asset Oltenia was completed, including the installation of two new tanks with a vapor recovery system. In addition to the optimization of the oil treatment process, environmental impacts were reduced considerably (VOC emissions). The improved water system will save up to 5,000 m3 water per year.
  • Borealis became a member of the UN Global Compact and signed the UN Sustainable Ocean Principles. These commit companies to restoring and maintaining a healthy and productive ocean. Moreover, Borealis has initiated Project STOP, a pioneering program to support cities in developing and emerging countries to establish cost efficient, effective, and more circular waste collection systems. Read more on the Project STOP website.
  • We continued to implement biodiversity initiatives, such as our green areas project in arid locations in Tunisia. Starting by planting 512 trees in Waha in 2020, we continued expanding to Nawara with 1,200 trees in 2021. The project includes an irrigation system. The goal is to provide recreation areas to improve the wellbeing of personnel and visitors, and to promote forestation.
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