VTTI & the Environment
Although our operational basis is to comply with local environmental legislation, it is by no means the limit of our intentions. VTTI is committed to improving our environmental performance to meet challenging international standards. Indeed, we are significant investors in new technologies and processes that will reduce our impact on emissions to the air, water and soil.
Fresher air
Our EuroTank Terminal is the first in Europe’s busiest port, Rotterdam, to adopt technology to treat fuel oil displacement vapours while loading seagoing vessels. This active-carbon treatment is now being studied by neighbouring operators, and we plan to take advantage of further EU technologies to treat volatile organic compounds. We are determined to make sure that our workforce, contractors and local residents can enjoy a healthy and pleasant atmosphere around our plant. Similar technology is also being adopted at our terminals in Ventspils (Latvia) and Amsterdam.
Better water
The VTTI terminal in Ventspils has just installed a leading-edge wastewater treatment plant. Trials are ongoing now, prior to full commissioning. Similarly, our terminal in Kaliningrad, Russia, is preparing to upgrade its wastewater treatment system.
Cleaner soil
As you acquire terminals, you also inherit liabilities. In terms of soil, some of our plants inherit the legacy of contamination from previous owners, and from a time when environmental concerns were a lower priority.
Recent projects have included successful remedial action to clean-up soil on our sites in both Rotterdam and Amsterdam. We have also recently completed a full clean-up of a tar pool at our Vitco terminal in Argentina.
These are just some examples of early wins in what will be a lengthy programme of improvement. However, prevention will always be better than remediation, and the VTTI group intends to work actively towards gaining ISO accreditations where we do not already hold them.
