Environmental efforts

The extraction and manufacturing of fertilizers is a relatively clean but highly energy intensive process. In a global context, the greatest environmental impact is from greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted during ammonia production CO₂ and nitric acid production N₂O.

In our efforts to limit the negative effects, initiatives to reduce energy use and emissions of GHGs have top priority. Yara’s emission targets are set in accordance with Best Available Techniques (BAT), and particularly ambitious targets have been established for the emissions of GHGs. Our target is a 25 percent reduction in such emissions, measured in 2009 compared to 2004 levels.

In recent years, most of Yara’s ammonia plants have been technically upgraded to optimize energy efficiency, and energy-saving programs have been successfully implemented in several others. These efforts have paid off. Several of Yara’s ammonia plants now rank among the top 10 percent of the most efficient plants in the industry, and on average our plants perform better than the world industry average, as confirmed by global benchmarking carried out by the International Fertilizer Association (IFA).

Improving energy efficiency at the ammonia plants has the added benefit of reducing CO2 emissions. Our emissions of CO2 are also reduced by the facts that we utilize it to produce a number of industrial products. We have also successfully installed our break-through catalyst technology for reducing nitrous oxide N₂O emissions in many of our nitric acid plants. The catalyst breaks down N2O in the burner of a nitric acid plant, thereby reducing emissions of this highly potent greenhouse gas by 70 to 90 percent.

Further implementation of the catalyst is planned where feasible, and Yara has made the technology commercially available.

Other, more regional impact from Yara’s production plants includes nutrient-rich effluents and emission of acidifying gases (NOx and SOx). All such impact is monitored closely to ensure that allowable levels are not exceeded, and several steps have been taken to reduce emissions, for instance operational improvements and investments in cleaning technologies.

Yara uses relatively little water, except for cooling purposes, which involve little or no risk of contamination. In Northern Europe, water is primarily drawn from surface water, i.e. lakes and rivers, where as in other regions a combination of surface water and groundwater is used. Generally, no significant negative effects are expected with regards to water-withdrawal in the areas where Yara’s sites are located. Water is discharged into river systems or the sea after use, after cleaning to allowable levels.

Emissions of dust can have local impact on areas adjacent to Yara’s production sites. As for other emissions it is important for Yara to operate in compliance with permit levels. The environmental performance of each plant is shown in the unit reports where emissions are compared to permit levels.

Yara’s manufacturing processes do not produce a significant amount of solid waste. All hazardous waste is dealt with by waste management specialists. This includes use of catalysts, which are reclaimed.