The growing energy needs of the world can only be attained through energy conservation, which in turn needs adoption of new and efficient technology, modernisation of equipment and new ways of operating.
The responsibility of managing environmental impact goes beyond operations. In recognition of this fact, Tata Steel has always adopted effective measures in improving its processes, invested in break-through technology and developed products and services that minimise negative consequences in the environmental performance of the product-cycle.
Tata Steel has over the years focused on five principal areas of environment management:
- Optimising all the natural resources to their fullest extent
- Focusing on water conservation and management
- Waste utilisation and energy conservation
- Pollution control (to reduce CO2 emission)
- Land reclamation along with afforestation
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Combating Climate Change
India currently has no Green House Gas (GHG) emission reduction targets in the first Kyoto commitment period up to 2012. However, being a part of UNFCCC, India has taken the initiative to participate in Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the Kyoto Protocol. CDM has opened up new opportunities for achieving revenue from carbon trading and Tata Steel is pursuing these opportunities vigorously. The Company has registered its first CDM Project at the UNFCCC for TRT at G Blast Furnace and is also actively pursuing other programmes to combat climate change.
Acknowledging the fact that the steel industry, as a sector, contributes 4% of the total man-made carbon di-oxide emissions globally, all Tata Steel Companies are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and help and educate customers to do the same. Five strategic priorities underpin the Climate Change objective.
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Contributing to the Group’s effort, the Climate Task Force (CCTF) also laid down a continued plan of investing in breakthrough technologies to reduce the carbon footprint by at least 20% in the next ten years. It has incorporated in its operations technologies like ULCOS (Ultra-low CO2 Steelmaking), which is aimed at reducing emissions in the process-cycle.
Specific initiatives at Jamshedpur Works
The Jamshedpur Steel Works has benchmarked its activities with the IJmuiden Steel Works in the Netherlands and has undertaken several energy efficiency measures like maximising the utilisation of by-product gases, efficient operations of blast furnaces, etc. In addition, a number of other Indian divisions of the Company too, undertook the Carbon Foot Print exercise to assess the base levels and formulate a plan for setting targets and actions.
Tata Steel has implemented a variety of control measures to improve the working environment at the shop floor. The objective has been to create an atmosphere that respects both nature and community at the same time. The Jamshedpur works is the first in the world to be conferred the SA 8000 for work conditions and improvements in workplace. All its operations have achieved the ISO-14001 certification for environment management.
The Group currently participates in a voluntary agreement with the Dutch government regarding energy efficiency improvements over the period 2009 to 2012. The primary requirement of the agreement is an energy efficiency improvement of 2% per annum, covering both energy used within the manufacturing process and energy saved across the product life cycle. The total energy efficiency improvement in 2010 was 2.8%.
Environment initiatives around operational areas
Tata Steel focuses on strengthening agricultural capabilities of rural communities. Aid is offered to farmers to increase productivity and to bring wastelands under cultivation. A large portion of India’s land falls under the category of wasteland. To better utilise this land, Tata Steel has been partnering the National Horticultural Mission since 2005. By 2009-10, almost 9,000 acres of land had been brought under cashew and mango plantations, benefiting 3,700 households from 129 villages in the East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. At the Joda East Iron Mine in Odisha, Tata Steel has also introduced a scientific rainwater harvesting system to check the depleting levels of ground water. A large storage-cum-percolation lake has been constructed at a favourable location to pool in the water from the vast catchment area around the lake. This project will help increase the ground water levels of surrounding settlements, including the Joda township.
TSRDS has created and supported many 'Save Forest Groups' in Noamundi and Joda, to safeguard existing forests and encourage local people to protect the forest as a valuable sustainable resource. The Company has trained groups of local people on the development of orchids, saplings and other forest products to encourage sustainable use of the forest as a source of livelihood, and thereby protect the habitat.
In its efforts to prevent environmental degradation, the Company has also encouraged the development of renewable and non-polluting sources of energy in the rural areas. This initiative will gradually reduce dependence on firewood and slaughter of trees. While the Company operations constantly address environmental sustainability, its rural development activities have also focused on improving the green cover in the area and better water management.
World Environment Day
This is a defining event in the Tata Steel calendar. The Company celebrates World Environment Day on June 5 every year involving employees and the local communities. This is an occasion to celebrate the environment and its blessings through initiatives like mass sapling plantations and awareness building campaigns and programmes among communities.
Click here to know more about Tata Steel’s Environment initiatives