bold spirit - ArcelorMittal South Africa

72
ArcelorMittal South Africa
Annual Report 2010
Environmental performance
The promulgation in April 2010 of the new Air Emissions
Standards in terms of the National Environmental
Management: Air Quality Act 39 of 2004 presents a new
environmental compliance challenge, especially for our cokemaking
operations.
The impact of our operations on
the environment constitutes one of
our most significant business and
reputational risks. The environmental
footprint of iron- and steel making
derives from its need for natural
resources, electricity and coal and some
degree of environmental impact is
therefore unavoidable, we recognise our
responsibility to manage and reduce this
impact as far as possible. This needs to
be balanced with the demand for steel
by South Africa’s growing economy and
infrastructural needs.
Key issues
Our most pressing environmental
issues are outlined below:
• Emissions to air, of which
particulates and compliance with
the new Air Emissions Standards are
the key concerns.
• CO 2
emissions and their impact on
climate change.
• Water usage and efforts to achieve
zero effluent discharge (ZED)
status at Newcastle Works.
• Waste, by-products and recycling.
• Soil and groundwater pollution from
past and current operations.
Overview
Highlights
We have made good progress in
meeting our environmental goals
during the year under review. Apart
from minor delays, all our key projects
remain on track for completion and
there were no serious findings from
the various audits and site visits
conducted by the environmental
authorities. The report resulting
from a Green Scorpion inspection
conducted during August 2010
at Vanderbijlpark Works is not yet
available. There were no significant
environmental spills during the year
and we were not issued with any fines
or non-monetary sanctions for noncompliance
with environmental laws
and regulations. One incident was
reported to the authorities in October
2010 in terms of section 30 of The
National Environmental Management
Act as a result of the uncontrolled
release of emissions to atmosphere
during an emergency situation at our
Pretoria Works coke battery.
The Vereeniging Works Electric Arc
Furnace dust extraction system,
completed at the end of 2009,
has delivered excellent results,
greatly improving our particulate
emissions. SO 2
emissions have also
been reduced by more than 30%,
thanks to the Coke Clean Gas Project
at Vanderbijlpark Works. A new
waste disposal site was completed
at Vanderbijlpark Works before the
deadline of 31 December 2010 as
stipulated by the Department of
Water Affairs. This is a significant
milestone as all waste is now disposed
of at a site that fully complies with
all environmental requirements.
The achievement has also enabled
Vanderbijlpark Works to phase
out the last of its unlined ponds
which were used for the storage of
leachate and contaminated run-off
from the old disposal site. Leachate
and contaminated run-off from
the old and new disposal sites are
now stored in a new storage facility
adjacent to the new disposal site.
Good progress continues to be made
on the rehabilitation of legacy sites,
especially at our Vanderbijlpark Works.
Challenges
Our most pressing environmental
issue remains the achievement of
zero-effluent discharge (ZED) status
at Newcastle Works. This project has
been slightly delayed due to design
challenges and we still await the
re-issue of a water use licence from
the authorities. We remain confident
however that ZED status will be
achieved early in 2013.
The promulgation in April 2010 of
the new Air Emissions Standards in
terms of the National Environmental
Management: Air Quality Act 39 of
2004 presents a new environmental
compliance challenge, especially