Cairn Energy PLC
Corporate Responsibility Report 2009
Corporate Responsibility Report 2009
Waste
The rigorous waste management plans we have in place for dealing with hazardous and non-hazardous waste identify methods for the handling, treatment, storage, segregation, recycling and disposal of waste at all our sites.
We collect waste data for both our production and non-production activities. Amounts of waste reported for our non-production activities are dependent on the extent of drilling, seismic exploration and other activities which take place during the year.
Cairn India generated considerably more waste in 2009 than in the previous year, principally as a result of the peak in construction activities in Rajasthan. In the rest of our business, there was also an increase due principally to the survey and seismic activities offshore Greenland. As construction activities in Rajasthan are completed, the level of waste generation will fall significantly in Cairn India. Through the rest of the business, waste levels will reflect the level of exploration activity.
Minimising waste at the MPT
The MPT has been designed to operate with minimal impact on the surrounding environment and employs a number of key features.
For example, a dedicated landfill facility is being developed for the storage and disposal of non-recyclable waste. The landfill site will handle all non-recyclable waste generated over a 20-year period, while a high-temperature incinerator will be used for hydrocarbon-contaminated items that cannot be recycled. The ash from the incineration process will be disposed of in the landfill.
In addition:
- the facility meets its operational and domestic water needs from the abundant supply of sub-surface saline water in a nearby underground reservoir;
- rainwater from paved areas and rooftops is collected, stored and used on site;
- all vapour emissions from vessels and tanks are recovered and fed back into a closed-loop steam generation system; and
- the development of the greenbelt in and around the MPT is being conducted in collaboration with the local School of Desert Sciences.