Environmental care


Providing a healthy and safe living space is a basis for the development of our operations. Environmental protection, together with health and safety at work, represent the fundamental rights, duties and responsibility of all our employees, and are also a part of SIJ Acroni’s management policy.

At SIJ Acroni d.o.o. we divide environmental work into several areas:

  • Air
  • Water
  • Earth
  • Internal recycling
  • Sorting of waste 
  • Future investments
  • Activities.

 

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

SIJ Group’s carbon emissions rank us among the top 30 percent of the world’s most efficient steel producers included in the measurements. Even now, our emissions are significantly lower than the global average.

Internationally, most steel is still produced from raw ore, which has major environmental impacts at the stage of excavation and higher carbon dioxide emissions per tonne of cast steel produced due to the use of coking coal as an energy source. According to World Steel Association (WSA) statistics, in 2020 one tonne of cast steel released as much as 1.84 tonnes of carbon dioxide, whereas this figure was even higher in terms of production per tonne of stainless-quality steel, averaging as high as 2.88 tonnes. We use steel scrap as the main raw material in our steel production process. This is because steel can be recycled completely, and the production of steel in electric arc furnaces causes significantly lower emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. As a result of well-planned investments and optimizations, we are able to reduce our direct and indirect carbon dioxide emissions.

In our disclosures of SIJ Group emissions, we report indicators for the steel-producing companies SIJ Acroni and SIJ Metal Ravne, where direct emissions data are subject to additional verification performed by authorised verifiers in accordance with the law. 

Figure 1:Emissions: Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 (in Thousand Tonnes CO2), data for 2022

 

Direct greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1, GHG)

Carbon dioxide emissions generated by the process are calculated based on the mass balance of carbon and the required combustion and thermal energy, being performed in accordance with the carbon monitoring plan included in the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Permit.

Other indirect greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 2, GHG)

We use the World Steel Association (WSA) factors in the calculation of Scope 2.

Other indirect greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 3, GHG)

We use the WSA factors in the calculation of Scope 3.

 

The company SIJ Acroni does not import any heat or steam to the site.

The total GHG emissions intensity of the crude steel produced at the site SIJ Acroni in year 2022 were  1,068 (metric tonnes of CO2 e/ metric tonne crude steel).

We calculate our carbon footprint rspe GHG emissions in accordance with the ISO 14404:2013 international standard.

 

Air

We have 21 de-dusting systems for cleaning polluted air, produced through our technological processes. The de-dusting system in the steel mill alone purifies more than 1,600,000 m3 of polluted air containing solid particles and dust hourly, prior to releasing the air into the atmosphere.
Because of the high temperatures involved in the technological processes of steel production water is used for cooling purposes.
In 2006 we used 7,200,000 m3 of water for the purpose of cooling; by investing in improvements in production technology, water usage has been reduced to 2,100,000 m3 (2012).
To reduce the quantity of the cooling water we have replaced all flow-through cooling systems with open and closed loor cooling systems. All technological waste waters are purified in four waste water treatment plants.

Water

Because of the high temperatures involved in the technological processes of steel production water is used for cooling purposes.
Before remediation of Waste water treatment plant we spent 12.500.000 m3 of water for the purpose of cooling; by investing in the production technology improvements, the water usage has been reduced to 2.330.000 m3 (2014).
To reduce the quantity of the cooling water we have replaced all flow-through cooling systems with open and closed loor cooling systems. All technological waste waters are purified in four waste water treatment plants.

Earth 

The first objective of any waste policy should be to minimize the negative effects of the generation and management of waste on human health and the environment. The waste policy should also aim to rede the use of resources, and favor the practical application of the waste hierarchy.
The current European Directive on waste, which is also the basis for Slovenia’s national regulations, helps to move the EU closer to a ‘recycling society’, seeking to avoid the generation of waste and to use waste as a resource.
SIJ Acroni, d.o.o. has absolutely no interest in disposing of waste; we would rather process and reuse it. In the past slag was the main waste we had. In 2010 we registered all our slag as by-products under the REACH legislation.
The advantages of using black steel slag in road construction are the conservation of nature, a lower impact on the environment and improved characteristics of the road surface.

 

Biodiversity

At SIJ Acroni, we are committed to respecting biodiversity.

 

We do not initiate activities or plan associated facilities in or immediately adjacent to the following areas:

  • World Heritage sites;
  • Protected areas of the IUCN protected area management categories I-VI and conservation areas protected under national or local law;
  • community-conserved areas (ICCAs) unless such activities are endorsed with the Free, Prior and Informed consent of the affected communities;
  • Ramsar sites;
  • Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). 

In the case of natural habitat, the SIJ Group does not significantly convert or degrade them, unless all of the following are demonstrated:

  • No other viable alternatives for development on modified habitat exist within the region;
  • Consultation has established the views of stakeholders, including affected communities and indigenous peoples, with respect to the extent of conversion and degradation;
  • Any conversion or degradation is mitigated according to the mitigation hierarchy and designed to achieve no net loss.

 

In the case of critical habitat, we do not implement any activities or plan infrastructure, unless all of the following are demonstrated:

  • No other viable alternatives for development on modified or natural habitat that are not critical exist within the region;
  • The activities and infrastructure do not lead to adverse impacts on those biodiversity values that constitute the critical habitat, and on the ecological processes supporting those biodiversity values;
  • The activities do not lead to a net reduction in the global, national or regional population of any critically endangered or endangered species.

 

In the event of downgrading, downsizing or degazettement of World Heritage Sites, Ramsar sites or protected areas of the IUCN categories I-VI, SIJ Group continues its no-go policy.

Where a World Heritage site, Ramsar site or officially protected area is established in, around or adjacent to the area of activity of an existing site, we ensure that our activities do not lead to adverse impacts on those values for which the World Heritage site, Ramsar site or protected area was designated.

Internal recycling


Due to the recycling and transformation of old and waste steel into our products,SIJ Acroni d.o.o. is one of the largest waste management companies in Slovenia.
On a yearly basis we process between 300 and 400 thousand tonnes of scrap steel and iron. In addition, we also recycle other by-products of our manufacturing processes.


Sorting of Waste


Sorting waste within the company is an important part of everyday work at SIJ Acroni d.o.o.. In line with this we further recycle plastic, wood, paper, and mixed municipal waste. Sorting and recycling waste crucially contributes to the protection of natural resources and a reduction in energy usage. Throughout the company we have ’ecological islands’ for sorting waste.

Future investments


All the new technologies and processes that we invest in must meet the requirements of environmental protection and employee safety while adding a high quality product value. Our current project is the development of acid-free cleaning of surfaces by mechanical cleaning with sandblasting in the cold rolling plant.

Activities

Spring is a time for cleaning. Every year in May we organize a voluntary cleaning campaign to clean up the company premises.
An Open Day provides access to the company for locals and the nearby schools in order for them to see our steel production and the waste water treatment plants.

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