Championing environmental excellence: Hamed Al Rumhi, Orpic

Orpic Oman has reduced flaring from its plants by over 60 per cent in the last five years, informed Hamed Al Rumhi, Head-EIP, Orpic Oman. Excerpts from an interview with him.

What is Orpic’s overall strategy to meet the challenges related to climate change, environmental protection and sustainable development?

We are following the international best practices as well as our local stipulated legislations. In compliance to these legislations, Orpic Oman is reporting the Green House Gas (GHG) emissions for all of its operations. We are also working to develop a plan in order to phase out the ozone depletion substances (HCFCs) by 2020. In addition, Orpic have phased out all high Ozone depleting substances such as halon gas (CFCs) from our facilities. Moreover, fuel integration across our plants was implemented. This will promote greenhouse gas reduction as well as reduction in flaring. It has already been implemented between Sohar Refinery and Aromatics Plant.

One of the other strategies is to reduce fugitive emissions from our plants by using a regular Leak Detection & Repair (LDAR) programme. This programme started in 2012 by implementing a pilot project in Sohar Refinery and subsequently, a complete comprehensive programme in 2013-2015 across all our plants – in Sohar Complex and Mina Al Fahal (MAF). Going forward, we will continue using these best practices in the future as well.

What challenges are you facing in reducing your waste and emissions?

As an oil & gas industry, Orpic Oman is operating two large complex facilities — refineries & petrochemical plants and product storage facilities. Therefore, we have a tremendous industrial waste generation from all these facilities. The challenge we are facing is lack of eco-friendly and/ or reusable, treatment in the region to accommodate all industrial waste. This is one of the challenges in terms of waste management. The other challenge could be referred to the continuous change of crude quality since the commissioning of the refinery in 2006. The crude quality becomes heavier over the years due to new discoveries in Oman. This impacts our operations in the generation of waste as well as emissions to the atmosphere.

Tell us about the key objectives, programmes and results achieved on the environment improvement front in your operations as well as the development of new projects.

Our key objective is to continue reducing flaring from our plants by implementing strict targets. Since 2011, our flaring has reduced by more than 60 per cent. Another key achievement is the improvement of Sohar Refinery treated wastewater quality to more than 90 per cent. The results were achieved due to a number of improvement projects carried out at the wastewater treatment plant. The other milestone is that we have reduced community complaints by more than 70 per cent in 2015 compared to the past few years. Another achievement is the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) reduction by almost 60 per cent from implementing LDAR programme.

What are the new technologies and best practices you have introduced or planning to introduce in Oman on environment protection front?

One of the best practices Orpic Oman have introduced over the last few years is the monitoring of odours through e-noses. The same system has already been implemented in one of the big industries in Rotterdam in Europe. This is an effective tool to monitor odour emissions as well as giving feedback to the complainants about Orpic operations. The other best practice is implementing the best available technologies in reducing emissions from different facilities eg. waste water treatment plants, tanks and other facilities by using effective absorbers and odour abatement project which has been recently commissioned. These equipment will significantly reduce the amount of VOCs emitted to the air. Three scrubbers in series were introduced to remove, Ammonia (NH3), Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) in addition to activated carbon filters in order to eliminate VOC’s from WWT.

Another technique to be introduced soon is the real time predictive air quality model for Sohar which will support the optimization of operational activities, enhance Orpic’s community liaison and engagement with the affected communities and to provide a comprehensive regulatory compliance tool for all air emissions from Orpic facilities in Sohar.

Orpic Oman is also working to promote industrial waste reuse & recycling in accredited and approved facilities in an eco-friendly manner or applications. These facilities need to be developed in the country because we don’t see them quite often in the region. Orpic will definitely support subsidiaries that can undertake this business model.

Tell us about the audit or certifications done by international bodies to verify your claims and achievements in environment improvement.

Orpic Oman has been awarded with formal certification against ISO 14001 ‘Environmental Management System’, ISO 9001 ‘Quality Management System’ and OHSAS 18001 ‘Occupational Health & Safety Management System’ certifications that cover all dimensions of Orpic business.

By adopting the internationally recognized ISO14001 EMS (Environmental Management System) standard, Orpic seeks opportunity to demonstrate our commitment towards environment. In the spirit of this standard, we look forward to enhancing our overall environmental performance and continual improvement in all aspects of operations at our facilities. This is driven by our prime business principle — ‘We Put Safety & Environment First’. The ISO 14001 certification encourages us to take possible initiatives in everything done by us, our employees and our contractors so as to protect the environment and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

In addition, as per MECA guidelines, accredited international environmental agencies have carried out an environmental assessment and audit studies for all Orpic plants. The consultants are certified assessors who are approved by the Ministry of Environment & Climate Affairs (MECA) to perform environmental reviews and benchmark with best available technologies. All assessments of Sohar Complex and MAF Refinery have been completed and reports were submitted to MECA.

What are going to be the key goals for Orpic in 2016 on environment improvement?

Our key objectives from 2016 onwards are to explore more environmentally friendly solutions for industrial waste by promoting best technology to re-use and recycle all waste generated by Orpic plants. We are also aiming to enhance the odour management system through implementation of environment quality management systems (EQMS) that we have created in Sohar and which will be extended to all our Orpic plants. This will be a unique system, which is in the process of implementation by Orpic. Our third objective is to reduce our overall air emissions towards the commissioning of Sohar Refinery Improvement Project (SRIP). SRIP will give us a good opportunity to enhance operations in the refinery and reduce air emissions. One of our key objectives is also to continue working with research and development institutes for environmental related projects and also create initiatives towards sustainable projects and renewable energy. We would also like to support the development of young students who would like to see Orpic as a champion of environmental excellence.

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