Other emissions into the atmosphere

In 2013 emissions of NO_x were reduced by a total of 11.9% from 2012, thanks to the contribution of all the business areas (in particular, down 13.7% in E&P, down 26.1% in G&P, and down 23.1% in R&M). The E&P sector, which accounts for more than 60% of Eni’s total figure, reduced its emissions by over 9,700 tonnes, due to the change of fuel mix used in different Countries (Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Ecuador and Nigeria), with a consequent improvement in the emission index per unit produced (down 5.9%). The refining sector significantly improved its performance (down 17.9% reduction recorded in the emission index), in particular due to projects underway at the Refineries in Sannazzaro and Gela, which at peak production result in the benefit of no NO_x emissions for approximately 110 t/y.

In the field of electricity generation, where full operation of VeLoNOx burners at peak production reduced emissions of NO_x by more than 20%, the index of emissions per unit produced did not decline (up 1.5%), due to unscheduled shutdowns in some plants and, due to market needs, combined cycles not running at full speed.

In 2013 total emissions of SOx went down 7.3% compared to 2012. The declining trends were established mainly in the refining sectors (down 6,186 tonnes), chemicals (down 661 tonnes) and G&P (down 393 tonnes), while E&P (up 5,028 tonnes) and E&C (up 91 tonnes) showed a growing trend.

In the refining sector, which contributes about 38% of the consolidated Eni total, the declining trends (down 36.4% compared to 2012 for emissions and down 32% for the index referring to production) are to be attributed both to reduced processing in the refineries and to a change in the used fuel mix (increased use of natural gas in the refineries and consequently reduced use of fuel oil and coke) as well as energy-saving initiatives. The positive performance was also boosted by the work performed at the Gela Refinery to interconnect the four-stack chimney with the SNOx chimney, which allows the fumes sent to the latter to be maximised. Also at the Gela Refinery, the creation of a new SRU unit is planned with the expected benefit of no SOx emission at full production for about 740 t/y.

In the E&P sector the increase in SOx emissions compared to 2012 (both in absolute terms and relative to units produced) is mainly attributable to the Libyan contribution, a result not fully accounted during 2012 due to the difficult situation in the Country and, secondly, to the subsidiary Agip Karachaganak (Kazakhstan) due to greater accuracy in the estimation of emissions.

NMVOC and TSP emissions went down 10.6% and 19.7% respectively compared to 2012. The changes are mainly attributable to the E&P sector due to the reduction of flaring. The reduction of volatile organic compounds was also affected by fewer movements of petroleum products in R&M and specific operations undertaken at the Mantua and Dunkirk petrochemical plants.