As Malaysia’s leading integrated chemicals manufacturer, PCG remains steadfastly committed to conduct our facilities in a manner which responsibly manages our operations' environmental footprint.
Our commitment towards conserving the environment is aligned with our objective of protecting people and the planet throughout every aspect of our operations. Our goal is to ensure that the resources we consume are efficiently utilised through various initiatives and optimisations.
In particular, we are mindful of efficiently using the natural resources of water and hydrocarbons, while managing waste in a safe manner, bearing in mind our environment and local communities living within the areas of our operations.
Inspired by the Resource Efficiency pillar of our Sustainability Strategic Thrust, we aim to improve the efficiency of our energy consumption, which is mainly derived from natural gas, an indication of our strong commitment towards the environment. We also implement best water management practices and minimise waste.
We require all of our plant facilities throughout the PCG supply chain to report key environmental performance indicators on a quarterly basis, so that our management is well aware of Group performance and make necessary interventions when required.
With input provided by the Sustainable Development Working Committee (SDWC), our Management Committee oversees Group performance and makes informed decisions in addressing our environmental performance.
We share the knowledge and experience of our personnel in the Environment fraternity through the annual Environment Community of Practices (E-CoP), organised by PETRONAS Group HSSE, to ensure our people are well informed of the latest developments and environmental best practices.
Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Over the past few decades, greenhouse gases (GHG) have been identified as the most significant contributor to climate change.
Among the GHGs, carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most pervasive, being the by-product of various chemical reactions, especially those that involve burning of fuel and the use of electricity for energy. With over 75% of our total GHG emissions resulting from the energy we consume to operate our plants, we have made it a priority to manage and minimise our energy consumption through the Energy and Loss Management System (ELMS).
ELMS emphasises continuous improvements through a systematic process and encourages efficient use of energy, which in turn contributes to reducing our GHG emissions.
Freshwater Consumption
A key natural resource utilised by our manufacturing operations is water. Within our manufacturing processes, water is predominantly used to generate steam, as well as for cooling and cleaning purposes.
We closely monitor all activities related to the use of water, in line with PETRONAS’ Guidelines on Water Practices (WAPS). WAPS defines the operating conditions and maintenance practices for efficient water use. The list of WAPS guidance documents are as follows:
- Cooling water system
- Ion exchange system Internal
- Reverse osmosis and electrode ionisation system
- Steam generator system
- Condensate system
- Control at source for wastewater discharges
- Wastewater collection and treatment system
- Sludge handling system
Emissions to Air
Air and water emissions at our facilities are managed to minimise our impact on the environment. Guided by our HSE Policy, we reduce emissions at source utilising pollution control equipment. As an added safety measure, we monitor the quality of air surrounding our plants.
Wastewater Discharges
We also monitor our emissions to water closely. A key parameter analysed is chemical oxygen demand (COD), which gives us an indication of how much organic matter is released into surrounding waters. All water discharged by PCG is channelled into rivers and the sea, and not into enclosed water bodies.
Waste Generation
In our efforts to efficiently consume natural resources and minimise waste, especially hazardous waste, we practice a Waste Management System which minimises the environmental impact of our operations by reducing, reusing, recycling and / or recovering waste.
The majority of PCG’s hazardous waste is recycled as fuel, solvents, lubricants or other beneficial products. Where possible, spent catalysts used in our processes are sent to specialised facilities, where precious metals are extracted from them.
In addition, we quantify and inventorise all hazardous waste, which are then safely stored in dedicated areas within each
manufacturing site before being transported to Government licensed waste facilities for appropriate treatment.
