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Discharges

We have reduced the total volume of oil in effluent that we discharge by approximately 45% since 1999. All waste water from our facilities is first treated to make it safe before being returned to the environment. This is in line with our Global Environmental Standards.

Oil in effluents

Chart: Oil in effluents to surface environment

The main impurity in the waste water our facilities release is dissolved or suspended oil. The waste water (effluent) from our facilities is first treated before being returned to the environment. The treatment is done by waste water systems which, when properly designed, reduce the concentration of impurities in the effluent water released to such low levels that there is no damage to the receiving environment.

Local laws and permits normally set the maximum allowable concentration of impurities in discharged waste water. Our Group-wide global environmental standards requires downstream facilities in the developing world to apply OECD (developed world) standards for concentrations of oil in effluent. In some cases, this means meeting higher standards than the levels required by local legislation.

In 2008, the total volume of oil in effluent we discharged was slightly more than in 2007. We have reduced oil in effluent by approximately 45% since 1999, primarily by installing better water treatment facilities and improving the way we run them.