Introduction of cleaner production in the tank farm of the Pancevo Oil Refinery, Serbia

This work studies the introduction of cleaner production (CP) in the tank farm of the Pancevo Oil Refinery. From 2003 to 2008, substantial investments in storage technology and equipment were made in order to minimize the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This article analyzes the effects of the CP activities using a model of tank farm emissions before and after reconstruction. US EPA TANKS software was used in order to develop a comprehensive model of the tank farm emissions. The year 2006 was accepted as representative for the analyses and related technical and production data as well as meteorological information were employed in the development of the model. The results show that the total VOC emissions were 37.6% lower after reconstruction and that the emissions of the major pollutant benzene were decreased by 62.7%. The effects of the CP activities were analyzed through the reduction of ecological damage, elements related to the operating costs, liability issues and the companyʹs image. Future tank farm reconstruction activities in the Oil Refinery, Pancevo were proposed and their environmental effects predicted. An indicator of the expected decrease in VOC pollution was developed and quantified, with the aim of its use for quick calculations in similar cases.