Cleaner Production Proves Its Worth
Thứ năm, 16/09/2010
As one of the first companies to take part in the Cleaner Production Component in Industry , the Sai Gon- Dong Xuan Beer and Alcohol Joint Stock Company has obtained numerous successes and become a leader in applying cleaner production solutions among beer and alcohol companies.
As one of the first companies to take part in the Cleaner Production Component in Industry , the Sai Gon- Dong Xuan Beer and Alcohol Joint Stock Company has obtained numerous successes and become a leader in applying cleaner production solutions among beer and alcohol companies.
Sai Gon- Dong Xuan Beer and Alcohol Joint Stock Company, an affiliate of the Sai Gon Beer, Alcohol and Beverage Corporation (SABECO) produces 30 million liters of beer, 1.5 million liters of alcohol and 3 million bottles of wine annually. As with other beer and alcohol companies, before taking part in Cleaner Production Component in Industry (CPI), the company's biggest problem was exhaust fumes, dust, waste water and solid waste emissions. Therefore, in 2007 the company participated in the CPI to implement cleaner production solutions.
Along with establishing a group of staff who are responsible for assessing the effects of cleaner production solutions, the company started to carry out low-cost solutions. Before realizing these solutions, the company consumed 165 million cubic meters of water per year (equal to 100 liters to produce one liter of alcohol). In order to reduce water consumption, the cleaner production staff has applied several methods to control water consumption such as installing stainless steel plates around the fermentation tank's bends so that when flowing direction is changed, water did not shoot out. Workers were told not to put things that prevent water from running on the fermentation tanks. In addition, condensed water which used to be wasted was withdrawn to supply to boilers. With VND17 million spent on applying these methods, the company saved VND115 million and reduced 225,600cu.m of emitted water annually.
Furthermore, the company has applied solutions to reduce electricity consumption. Before the solutions were put into practice, the company used 675,000KWh of electricity per year (with voltage of 410V). Forty Watt fluorescent light bulbs were used. To reduce electricity consumption, a transformer was installed to reduce the voltage, and that helped avoid electricity overloading, increased longevity and reduced electricity waste. Forty Watt fluorescent light bulbs were replaced with 36W bulbs. Despite lower capacity, 36W light bulbs are 20 percent lighter than 40W bulbs. These solutions cost VND1.5 million, however they help the company save VND360 million per year.
While being transported from storage to grinding machines, cassava flour leaking out polluting the environment and lead to waste. The company invested VND16 million to install a vacuum cleaner system. This saved VND48.75 million per year and stopped 19,500kg of dust being emitted to the environment.
Following cheap but effective solutions, the company started the second stage of CPI with more expensive investment. Finding that 1,100cu.m of water used to cool engines was wasted per day, the company constructed a circulation cooling tower to reduce engine temperature. After cooling, water at 50 centigrade degree was made to flow to a tank to naturally cool down. Because the water is treated, it continues being used to reduce the temperature of the fermentation tanks without damaging material quality. This cooling tower cost VND304 million, which helped the company to save VND150 million by reducing 350,000cu.m of water and 238 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually.
In addition, VND1.5 billion was invested to purchase an automatic bottle washing machine. After purchasing the bottle washing machine, bottles are manually washed with detergent and organic acids. This method has low capacity, does serious harm to worker health and the environment and requires many workers. Thanks to the bottle washing machine, water, labor, material and fuel consumption has been lessened. The number of broken bottle has reduced by 1,000 per year. Therefore, the company has saved VND250 million annually.
In addition, before taking part in CPI, 2,000 tonnes of coal was used per year. Lack of air in the boilers increased the amount of coal consumed. Therefore, the company intensified the supply of air to the boilers and supervised boiler operation to reduce coal consumption. With VND150 million invested to apply those methods, the company saves VND1.9 billion through conserving 80 tonnes of coal and reducing 238 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Assessing the achievements after applying cleaner production solutions, Khuat Van Trieu, the director of the company affirmed: "We will continue maintaining the cleaner production staff to promote our achievements while taking part in CPI".
Along with establishing a group of staff who are responsible for assessing the effects of cleaner production solutions, the company started to carry out low-cost solutions. Before realizing these solutions, the company consumed 165 million cubic meters of water per year (equal to 100 liters to produce one liter of alcohol). In order to reduce water consumption, the cleaner production staff has applied several methods to control water consumption such as installing stainless steel plates around the fermentation tank's bends so that when flowing direction is changed, water did not shoot out. Workers were told not to put things that prevent water from running on the fermentation tanks. In addition, condensed water which used to be wasted was withdrawn to supply to boilers. With VND17 million spent on applying these methods, the company saved VND115 million and reduced 225,600cu.m of emitted water annually.
Furthermore, the company has applied solutions to reduce electricity consumption. Before the solutions were put into practice, the company used 675,000KWh of electricity per year (with voltage of 410V). Forty Watt fluorescent light bulbs were used. To reduce electricity consumption, a transformer was installed to reduce the voltage, and that helped avoid electricity overloading, increased longevity and reduced electricity waste. Forty Watt fluorescent light bulbs were replaced with 36W bulbs. Despite lower capacity, 36W light bulbs are 20 percent lighter than 40W bulbs. These solutions cost VND1.5 million, however they help the company save VND360 million per year.
While being transported from storage to grinding machines, cassava flour leaking out polluting the environment and lead to waste. The company invested VND16 million to install a vacuum cleaner system. This saved VND48.75 million per year and stopped 19,500kg of dust being emitted to the environment.
Following cheap but effective solutions, the company started the second stage of CPI with more expensive investment. Finding that 1,100cu.m of water used to cool engines was wasted per day, the company constructed a circulation cooling tower to reduce engine temperature. After cooling, water at 50 centigrade degree was made to flow to a tank to naturally cool down. Because the water is treated, it continues being used to reduce the temperature of the fermentation tanks without damaging material quality. This cooling tower cost VND304 million, which helped the company to save VND150 million by reducing 350,000cu.m of water and 238 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually.
In addition, VND1.5 billion was invested to purchase an automatic bottle washing machine. After purchasing the bottle washing machine, bottles are manually washed with detergent and organic acids. This method has low capacity, does serious harm to worker health and the environment and requires many workers. Thanks to the bottle washing machine, water, labor, material and fuel consumption has been lessened. The number of broken bottle has reduced by 1,000 per year. Therefore, the company has saved VND250 million annually.
In addition, before taking part in CPI, 2,000 tonnes of coal was used per year. Lack of air in the boilers increased the amount of coal consumed. Therefore, the company intensified the supply of air to the boilers and supervised boiler operation to reduce coal consumption. With VND150 million invested to apply those methods, the company saves VND1.9 billion through conserving 80 tonnes of coal and reducing 238 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Assessing the achievements after applying cleaner production solutions, Khuat Van Trieu, the director of the company affirmed: "We will continue maintaining the cleaner production staff to promote our achievements while taking part in CPI".
Source: VEN