Article 4: Supporting the SDG: industry, innovation and infrastructure
Goal 9 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) seeks to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation.
It recognises that economic growth is dependent on these factors. Robust and high-quality infrastructure impacts the entire economy; it creates efficiencies and decreases operational costs. In contrast, poor infrastructure creates obstacles, raises investment costs and increases risk. This applies to every sector, including the oil and gas industry.
It recognises that economic growth is dependent on these factors. Robust and high-quality infrastructure impacts the entire economy; it creates efficiencies and decreases operational costs. In contrast, poor infrastructure creates obstacles, raises investment costs and increases risk. This applies to every sector, including the oil and gas industry.
As emerging economies drive the demand for energy, it is vital to invest in innovative new technologies to increase energy efficiency and conservation.
At Q8Oils we are playing our part in creating sustainable infrastructure to meet energy demand. Maximising efficiency and the use of technological advances, while minimising environmental impact, is inherent in everything we do.
An example of this is our Blending Plant in Antwerp which has undergone a five-year $100m renovation programme to create one of largest, most advanced and sustainable lubricant production facilities in Europe with a potential production capacity of 250 million litres.
Safety and sustainability were at the heart of the masterplan from the earliest stages. When the old premises were dismantled, the polluted soil was cleaned and bund walls were built around the storage tanks to prevent spillage and potential contamination. Liquid-tight floors were installed to prevent liquid from permeating the soil.
The Blending Plant is almost entirely automated and has world-class standards of sustainability with safety and quality control procedures that meet the latest ISO standards.
Since the transformation was completed in 2015, Q8Oils takes every opportunity to enhance sustainability and innovation. We have improved door and window insulation; installed new toilets flushed by rainwater and are using solar energy to heat shower water. To encourage greener travel, we have increased bike parking spaces and installed chargers for electric bikes.
We have also introduced new laboratory software to improve the consistency and efficiency of production, which won Project of the Year at the 2017 Petroleum Economist Awards.
These initiatives are all part of a continuous programme of improvement that enhances the resilience and sustainability of the Antwerp Blending Plant.
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Article 5: Supporting the SDG: climate action
