OKTA first company installed the System for elimination of the emissions of Volatile

(Skopje, 21.08.2015) Being the biggest supplier of oil products on the domestic market, OKTA constantly invests in projects for its installation improvements and for achieving the latest standards for environmental protection.

Among the numerous projects by which the company controls its environmental footprint, in its final phase is the system for elimination of the emission of Volatile Organic Compounds. Almost a year before the deadline stipulated by the Law on Controlling the Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds When Handling Gasoline’s, OKTA will finalize its advanced project consisted of two parts – Vapour Recovery Unit and adjustment of the loading installations from “top” to “bottom” loading. 

“The introduction of the volatile organic compounds elimination system when using gasoline, will first and foremost contribute towards protecting the environment. The problem with the emission of these gases in the atmosphere is especially emphasised in the summer period when the air temperatures are high, but with the implementation of this system the emissions are decreased to a minimum”, says Professor Slavcho Aleksovski of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy in Skopje.

The first part of the new system installation consists of changing the method of tank truck loading. So far, all the trucks were loaded from the top opening, with the method commonly named “top loading”. This loading method mostly contributes towards evaporation of the VOC, due to the increased splashing and heating of the gasoline. With the introduction of the new loading system, all gasoline tank trucks will be loaded from the bottom, using the “bottom loading” method. By this the evaporation that occurs during gasoline’s handling will be minimized. Besides the positive effect on the environment, the additional benefits of the system are decreasing of human exposure to harmful gases and reducing the possibilities of fire occurrence. 

Additionally, the vapours that will occur during the “bottom loading” will not spread into the atmosphere, but they will be collected and transferred to the Vapour Recovery Unit, which constitutes the second part of the project. Through this Unit, all the vapours will return to their initial liquid phase and will be collected back to gasoline storage tanks. 

“The recovery system will significantly decrease the emissions of volatile organic compounds (methane, ethane, propane, butane, etc.) which are harmful to one’s health. Additionally, the new method of filling the fuel in the tanker trucks and reservoirs from bottom instead of top, decreases the possibility of light hydrocarbon to evaporate and improves the work safety of the employees at the gasoline terminals where fuel is stored, filled and transported”, adds Aleksovski.

The company OKTA is in the final phase of the installation of the system for elimination of gasoline evaporations, even thought, the deadline for carrying out full operability of the system is 30 June 2016, as defined in article 28 of the Law on Controlling the Emissions of Evaporable Organic Compounds when Using Gasoline.