Construction of Solar Power Plants and Combating Environmental Pollution at Mobarakeh Steel Company.
Mojtaba Fard Afshari, Environmental Expert at Mobarakeh Steel Company of Isfahan
Since its establishment, Mobarakeh Steel Company has initiated many environmental projects, including the installation of dust collectors for the steelmaking roof to prevent the emission of particulate matter (PM2.5) and (PM10), as well as the control of carbon dioxide emissions. Following that, the creation and development of chemical and sanitary wastewater treatment plants were put on the agenda. Control and monitoring systems for various wastewater parameters, stack emissions, and pollution parameters were also designed and launched. These systems are known as SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) and are monitored online. The data is sent to the relevant units in Mobarakeh Steel Company and also to the General Department of Environment of Isfahan Province so that they are aware of the online status of these parameters.
In the energy sector, Mobarakeh Steel Company has constructed solar power plants in the foothills of Isfahan. Additionally, a combined cycle power plant with a capacity of 514 megawatts has been launched and is operational. It is projected that the capacity of solar power plants will reach approximately 600 megawatts, which is being completed and partly operational. These projects are being implemented across vast areas spanning several hectares.
To monitor soil pollutants, measurements of toxic substances (referring to heavy metals) have been conducted in various environments including water, soil, wastewater, fish, and tree leaves, covering a radius of up to 15 kilometers around Mobarakeh Steel Company. Even measurements of microplastics in the soils surrounding the factory have been carried out. The results of these measurements have been very good and within environmental standards, and no problems have been reported in this regard so far. In the next stages, measurements of heavy metals and asbestos and silica minerals in the mining areas and lands around the company are among the projects under consideration.
In the field of air pollution modeling, emission inventory studies and modeling have been conducted, and a three-dimensional model has been designed that visualizes pollutant emissions based on their composition. Also, regarding life cycle assessment, a project has been defined in collaboration with the University of Tehran, of which up to 80 percent has been completed, and initial modeling and reviews have been carried out to resolve ambiguities.
Purchase of urban wastewater from 9 cities surrounding Mobarakeh Steel Company
One of the best things we have done regarding urban wastewater is that the urban wastewater of 9 cities surrounding Mobarakeh Steel Company has been purchased, and a very large treatment plant has been designed based on European systems, and the third phase of this treatment plant is being completed for operation. With these actions, the dependence on the Zayandehroud River water will be reduced to zero. In addition, the water transfer project from the Persian Gulf is progressing and is expected to be fully operational within one or two years.
All projects implemented at Mobarakeh Steel Company are based on environmental impact assessments. These assessments are conducted before the projects begin, as the Environmental Organization will not issue a project construction permit without the assessment. In this regard, environmental problems and challenges are identified, and corrective actions are taken before the projects commence.
Another topic is in the field of waste management. We have identified and categorized the types of industrial, special, ordinary, agricultural, and infectious waste produced within the organization. Information related to these wastes is registered in environmental systems, and with the issued permits, the wastes are transferred to waste management companies. One of the most important plans in this regard is the use of steel slag, which is mainly produced in steel industries.
More than 98 percent of waste materials in steel industries are slag. However, it should be noted that slag is recognized as a byproduct and not waste. This material is used in steel and cement production and is recognized as one of the functional materials in the industry. One of its important uses is in the production of cement, concrete, and even in asphalt paving processes.
According to scientific research, when you use slag, the amount of carbon dioxide emissions is significantly lower than when using natural materials such as sand and gravel extracted from mines. This point is especially important for industries and countries that are moving towards reducing carbon pollutants, because today one of the main global concerns is reducing carbon footprint and moving towards carbon neutrality. Any action that helps reduce carbon emissions is not only beneficial for the environment but also beneficial for industries and companies.
Carbon Emission Reduction and Its Financial Value in Global Markets
One of the very important points in this regard is the commercial aspect of carbon reduction. In conditions where carbon is reduced, it is possible to sell the stored carbon. In other words, if a company has been able to reduce its carbon emissions, it can sell it to others. This possibility is especially valuable for companies that intend to operate in international markets. For example, if you want to export your products to the European Union or even some Asian countries, one of the first questions they will ask you is, what is your carbon footprint? That is, you must calculate how much carbon was emitted in the production of your product. You must also have a carbon emission certificate. If you do not have these calculations, the European Union may buy your product, but you will have to pay a fine of between 10 to 120 euros for each ton of products you export.
In this situation, some companies may decide to export their products to countries other than Europe. However, even in this case, if the destination country wants to export your product to Europe, they must provide a carbon emission certificate. Therefore, in practice, it seems that without a carbon reduction certificate, companies will not be able to export their products.
Considering these issues, Mobarakeh Steel Company has decided to calculate its carbon footprint reduction and comply with international standards in this regard. One of the actions the company has taken to reduce carbon emissions is obtaining international certifications in this area. Specifically, Mobarakeh Steel Company is in the process of obtaining certifications related to ISO 14064 and ISO 14067, which are standards for reducing carbon emissions and carbon footprint in products. About 80 percent of the work for these certifications has been completed, and we hope to receive these certifications by the end of the year. . Foulad Mobarakeh Company’s serious efforts to achieve environmental and commercial goals.
In addition, Mobarakeh Steel Company is launching advanced and large wastewater treatment systems. These systems are particularly unique in Iran and the Middle East. By implementing these projects, Mobarakeh Steel Company intends not only to fulfill its environmental responsibilities but also to be recognized as a successful model in the steel industry and the environment. These actions require heavy investments, but in the long term, they can have positive results in improving the environmental and commercial situation of the company.
Foulad Mobarakeh Company has also designed a five-year vision document for itself, in which important indicators have been considered and a plan has been written for them. Indicators have been specified in areas such as reducing water consumption intensity, reducing energy consumption intensity, improving material efficiency, and reducing pollutant emissions. These goals have been set in such a way as to approach global standards and enable the company to compete globally.
In this regard, Mobarakeh Steel Company continuously collaborates with World Steel, one of the most reputable global authorities in the field of steel, and utilizes the organization’s sustainability reports. All reports and results of these activities are available to other companies and industrialists, and Mobarakeh Steel Company is ready to share its experiences and achievements with others.
The need for government support in the field of culture
In the cultural sector, Mobarakeh Steel Company has also taken actions. The company strives to promote a culture of environmental sustainability among employees and the community. These efforts are available to the public in the form of various projects and sustainability reports.
I must remind you that we are not in a favorable space right now. It has become such that wherever an environmental issue such as water shortage, air pollution, and land subsidence comes up, they say, ‘Ask Mobarakeh Steel Company.’ This is giving the wrong address. Our conversation with the government is that it should support us, and the issues should be transparently shared with the people.
Implementing these projects requires significant costs. When you want to create infrastructures that are durable, it is necessary for the government to support these types of projects, because the necessary infrastructure to reduce carbon and environmental pollution carries heavy costs. Mobarakeh Steel Company is currently incurring significant foreign exchange costs for these projects. Technology must be brought in from abroad, which is costly. We expect the government to cooperate and provide the necessary support in providing financial resources for these environmental measures. This support can be particularly beneficial in the field of providing financial resources, facilitating the use of new technologies, and reducing the operational costs of environmental projects.
When we intend to implement an environmental project in society, the government must take the lead and have fundamental cooperation in facilitating the implementation of these plans. In many cases, due to complex bureaucracy and executive problems, environmental plans and activities are stopped even in the early stages and do not reach a result. To succeed in this area, the government must provide the ground for the realization of these plans from the very beginning with financial, legal, and executive support.
Organizations’ financing challenges in environmental projects
In terms of providing its expenses, the environmental organization is highly dependent on large industries and companies, although some of these companies may have negative effects on the environment in their activities. There are two problems here:
Firstly, large industries are typically polluters, and it is impossible to find a completely clean industry. Therefore, when something is to be done, the government must provide fundamental support. Mobarakeh Steel Company says it has its own income and can carry out its work. But in a part of the work that relates to the people and society, it must have government support. The work that is to be done at the level of a province has a high cost. At most, we can take measures within our own complex to prevent the emission of particles.
Secondly, organizations may not be able to independently carry out effective environmental activities due to financial dependence on these industries. For example, we want to electrify several passenger cars within our complex; it is no longer our responsibility to do this at the provincial level. This is where the government itself must step in and have this policy. Sometimes, perhaps a series of economic or political issues cause the environmental discussion to become less prominent and not be addressed as it should be. In general, our plan is that whatever we want to do, we first assess its environmental impacts and can do something that results in the least pollution and can be controlled to the standard level.
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