Qatar Petrochemical Company (Qapco) was recently honoured for its contribution to the Qatar Energy and Industry Sector Sustainable Development Industry Reporting (SDIR) Programme during a ceremony in Doha.

On the occasion, , Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada, Qatar’s Minister of Energy and Industry launched the 2013 Report on Sustainability in the Qatar Energy and Industry Sector, and presented Qapco with an award for Excellence in Environmental Management.

This recognition acknowledges the progress achieved by Qapco in terms of environmental performance and sustainability reporting.

Dr Mohammed Yousef Al Mulla, vice chairman and CEO of Qapco, said: “For the past 3 years, Qapco invested significantly into environmental impact projects that delivered tangible results, such as an 80 per cent reduction in flaring and a 29 per cent reduction in energy intensity.

“We have also made significant advances in greenhouse gas emission intensity, reducing 20 per cent over the past three years. Investing in the latest machinery and technologies within our plants has allowed us to achieve these improvements.”

Dr Al Mulla also explained that Qapco is proud to participate in the SDIR Program as it provides a valuable platform for collaboration, comparison and allows best practices sharing.

“We continue to learn and draw strength from our participation in the SDIR Programme and look forward to advancing our own leadership on sustainability in alignment with the energy and industry sector,” he said.

“Qatar, through the SDIR Programme, is the only country in the world that has made sustainability reporting mandatory. This pioneering initiative is certainly driving progress and propelling sustainability forward.

“As a responsible corporate citizen that has been established in Qatar for almost 40 years, we understand that we have a responsibility to manage our environmental impact in a comprehensive manner. Taking account of our environmental footprint from materials, waste and energy makes our business stronger by identifying opportunities for efficiency gains and cost savings.

“Environmental management is more than a compliance exercise, it is part of our commitment to grow stronger by managing our impact from every angle, including the environment. Moving forward, we will continue to increase our attention towards environmental management by putting sustainability into action,” he concluded.

Building on its recent Responsible Care certification, which will augment the company’s existing environmental management systems, Qapco is setting clear sustainability objectives for the next five years.

In 2014, Qapco will focus on water efficiency education for employees in order to build awareness of water as a vital resource and to encourage reduction in water usage at home and in the office. – TradeArabia News Service