Viro sugar factory uses significant amounts of natural gas, the main energy source in sugar production. During the 100 days of sugar beet campaign Viro spends Nm³ 20 million of natural gas, while during the 120 days of processing raw sugar we spend Nm³ 12 million of natural gas.
The factory has its own plant for production of technologic steam, which is used for production of electricity for the factory. Occasionally, excess electricity is produced, and distributed to the electro energetic network in the quantity and at the price agreed with the authorized electricity distributor.
To reduce the consumption of natural gas, and by that the emissions to the atmosphere, in the next two years we plan to lower the consumption of natural gas by 20% by reconstructing the production plans and modernizing equipment.
Water extraction amounts to 250,000 cubic meters in one year, but we also collect rainwater from rooftops and asphalted surfaces. Rainwater is channeled to the collector and directed to the waste water cleaning facility. The total amount of water which runs through the waste water facility amounts to 300,000 cubic meters per year. The total amount of communal waste water of the Town of Virovitica is also treated in the factory’s waste water cleaning facility in the amount of 320,000 cubic meters per year.
To maximally reduce the quantity of water needed in different sugar production phases, we recycle the water used for unloading and washing sugar beet in the factory, as well as water used for cooling. This way Viro saves 4000 cubic meters of fresh water per hour, which amounts to 9,600,000 cubic meters annually.
The factory produces hazardous and non-hazardous waste. Non-hazardous waste is all technological waste, i.e. mud created by washing sugar beet, filtration sludge from the production process, green waste, waste from the kitchen and the factory restaurant, paper from the packaging facility and other firm waste from production.
Hazardous waste includes waste oils and lubricants, oiled packaging, waste accumulators, degreasing devices and waste tires.
Companies specialized for waste disposal take over all types of waste and dispose them according to legal requirements. Documentation following production, storage and removal from the factory is made in accordance with the Law on Waste and other relevant Rulebooks.
Green waste produced during sugar beet processing is currently distributed to cattle breeders. In the next two years we plan to invest in disposal of green waste in a way that includes collecting, transport towards curing plant for sugar beet chips and mixing with sugar beet chips in production of briquettes for feed.
Emissions to the atmosphere are originated in the energy plant during burning of natural gas. Emission from this source is monitored quarterly and it is within the proscribed limits.
Second emission to the atmosphere is the emission of solid particles which are originated in the process of dehydrating sugar beet chips with simultaneous appearance of gases which emerge during burning of natural gas in the dehydration process. All values are monitored by specialized companies, and measured values are within proscribed limits. |
