Environmental Sustainability Management
Environmental Policy and Guidelines
The Company realizes that steel industry plays a role in national development and consumes natural resources in production process. Thus, the Company constantly prioritized the environmental management by adhering to business operation ethics and philosophy. Occupational health, safety and environment policy and environmental work plan are included in business operation.
The Safety, Environment and Plant Integrity Management Office is a main driving force on environmental management which jointly works with other production units in the plant site. The environmental managers, supervisors, and operators in charge of water, air pollution and waste control systems have been fully appointed pursuant to the laws. Implementation in accordance with the laws relevant to environmental matters has been strictly complied, including the study and preparation of environmental impact assessment report, the compliance with the preventive and corrective measures to minimize the environmental impact from steel manufacturing, the measures to monitor quality of the environment, ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, ISO 45001: Occupational Health and Safety Management standard system.
For the operations outside the plant, the Company jointly cooperated with other companies in Sahaviriya Steel Group in Bangsaphan District to promote and cultivate the environmental awareness, and the collaboration between the communities and the plant through various activities throughout the year
Environmental Operating Results
Energy Management
The Company controlled and optimized usage of energy in the organization. The energy management working group acts as a center to manage energy in collaboration with various departments within the organization as cross functional team by regularly implementing joint energy saving measures, both concerning with direct production process, such as steel furnace system, motor driving systems, and concerning with production support systems, such as wastewater treatment systems, compressed air system, lighting system. The Company has implemented and applied the international standard of Energy Management System, ISO 50001: 2018 within the organization in order to improve energy performance, reduce environmental impacts, reduce energy costs and fostering concrete participation on energy saving.
Apart from energy conservation within the organization, the Company also put emphasis on cooperating with the energy promotion projects of the public sectors on continuous basis, for instance, attending in the seminar on the energy conservation supervisory project in accordance with the laws on factory control, as well as placed emphasis on personnel development training by supporting the budget for personnel development continually. The Company also encouraged for employee engagement on energy conservation activities, which resulted in participatory energy saving throughout the organization.
Water Management
SSI Bangsaphan Steelworks uses raw water from Bangsaphan canal, a huge surface water source located 13.5 km. far from the plant. Water is pumped into 2.4 million cubic meters water reservoir. However, SSI will not pump water from Bangsaphan Weir during dry season when water level in the weir is below 2.2 meters. The plant is also designed to recycle water in the HRC production.
Such water consumption management within the plant allows the Company to keep on production without having water shortage problem as water is a common resource shared with the community and local agricultural sector. Throughout year 2024, the Company still strictly adhered to the set measures.
For the treatment of wastewater, SSI has installed chemical water treatment system to reduce levels of wastewater generated in the HRC-pickled and oiled production line, installed sedimentation tanks, sand filters and grease trap tanks in the HRC production line, and equipped with biological treatment system for wastewater from consumption within the plant. The quality of water in all systems has been constantly tested by the officials and verified by the external certification body authorized by the government agencies. The treated water is recycled and some of which is used to water the plants, with zero discharge outside the plant.
In 2024, total water consumption in SSI Bangsaphan Steelworks was 0.72 million cubic meters, consisting of
1) HRC production line at 0.23 million cubic meters;
2) HRC pickled and oiled production line at 0.07 million cubic meters,
and 3) Water for utilities at 0.42 million cubic meters.
Control of Water Quality
Though, the Company’s water treatment system has been designed as zero discharge, but the Company still inspected quality of water, both within and outside the plant, as follows:
- Inspect quality of treated water at 4 stations by the third-party agency approved by the Industrial Works Department. Results obtained were better than the standard value of effluent as per specified in the Notification of the Ministry of Industry B.E. 2560.
- Inspect quality of subsurface water at 9 stations on semi-annual basis by the third-party agency approved by the Industrial Works Department. Currently, Thailand does not have the relevant standards on subsurface water, so the Company monitored any possible change but from analysis conducted during the past years, no significant change was detected.
- Inspect quality of surface water in public water sources at 3 stations, Klong Tha Kham, Klong Mae Rumpueng’ s headwaters and end of Klong Mae Rumpueng, on semi-annual basis by the third party agency approved by the Industrial Works Department to ensure that business operations of the Company will not have any impact to the environment.
Chemical Usage
Various chemicals were used in the water production system in the hot-rolled coil production line and hot-rolled coil pickled and oiled production lines. During the past year, the Company did not use new chemical in the plant and chemical usage rate in the processes did not have tendency to increase. In addition, inspection results pursuant to the ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards on chemical control and management in the plant were under the operating standards. However, there were some recommendations, but the relevant parties have already prepared the plan for such improvement.
Pollution and Waste Management
The Company is committed to reduce quantity of waste at source by applying the 3Rs Principle – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Waste in the production process and in the office have been taken into reduction, reuse and recycle projects, for instance, reduction of contamination of used oil from repeated use, compilation of wasted food from consumption by the staff to process for fermented bio-extract to distribute to the staff. The Company also selected waste disposal methods with minimal environmental impact, for instance, the Company used services of a well-known waste processor with expertise and certification issued by the authorized government agency for proper waste disposal standard as required by laws which has been accepted by many service users. In addition, for industrial waste management, the Company employed industrial waste pollution controller, to ensure that the operation has been performed correctly and in compliance with the laws.
Due to determination on effective waste and pollution management, the Company received 3 awards from the project on enhancement of unlawful disposal of industrial waste management by applying 3Rs and KAIZEN principles arranged by the Department of Industrial Works, Ministry of Industry
- 3Rs (3Rs Award)
- Zero Waste Achievement Award
- 3R+ Award, Bronze Medal
In 2024, total waste generated by the Company amounted to 20,936.69 tons, and revenue received from sale of waste amounted to Baht 40.12 million. Waste disposal expenses was Baht 14.26 million and 100% of waste left after such sale had been recycled method which has been approved by the government agency and pursuant to legal requirements.
Air Quality Control
As designed for efficient fuel consumption, SSI Bangsaphan Steelworks has installed computerized combustion system controlling level of sulfur impurity in the fuel not exceeding 2%, resulting in the better level of air ventilation outside the plant than the standard level and requirements specified in the plant’s environmental impact assessment report.
With regards to the hot-rolled coil pickled and oiled production line, acid gas detection systems have been installed both in the production line and in the acid treatment plant for recycling purpose. As a result, level of air ventilation outside the plant was also better than the standard levels and requirements specified in the plant’s environmental impact assessment report.
Various parameters of ambient air quality around the plant have been constantly monitored and inspected throughout the year. In 2024, 5 stations, namely, Baan Tha Kham, Baan Tha Manoa, Baan Klang Aow, Baan Tubmon and Baan Bor Thonglang were monitored. Air quality measured by parameters was as follows:
- Hourly average level of density of sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere
- Hourly average level of density of nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere
- Hourly average level of total suspended particulate (TSP) in the atmosphere
- Hourly average level of density of hydrogen chloride in the atmosphere
- Hourly average level of particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10)
- Hourly average level of particulate matter less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5)
Inspection results of air quality pursuant to the above parameters of all stations were much better than the set standard, as same as the results from the previous inspections of all stations and all parameters.
Biodiversity
Sahaviriya Steel Industries Public Company Limited (SSI) together with Sahaviriya Steel Group at Bangsaphan have carried out a biodiversity survey project, which is a key indicator of abundance of the eco-system, in the areas surrounding Sahaviriya Steel Group, with details as follows:
The Environmental Monitoring Project on Biological Resources
In 2024, the Company and the companies in Sahaviriya Steelworks, employed a team of the specialists from the Department of Zoology Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University to conduct the survey on biodiversity (species diversity) in the following areas: 1) Thung Don Samran Field, 2) Thung Lan Khwai Field, 3) Nok-Ka-Rean Field, 4) Mae Rumphueng Mangrove Forest, and 5) Pa Klang Aow Natural Park to ensure that the Company’s operations did not impact the biodiversity. Such survey has been carried out for 17 years consecutively (2008-2024).
From biodiversity survey results in areas surrounding the plant during September and December 2024, 4 types of animal classification, totaling 130 species were found, consisting of 1) 128 species of wildlife animals found from direct sighting, trace evidence and their voices, 2) 2 species were found from making inquiries (Dog-faced Water Snake and Collared Scops Owl), which divided into species of each class as follows: 1) 14 species of amphibians, 2) 22 species of reptiles, 3) 86 species of birds and 4) 8 species of mammals.
Such amount can be classified by each study area located around Sahaviriya Steelworks as follows:
(1) 67 species in Thung Don Samran Field
(2) 79 species in Thung Lan Khwai Field
(3) 62 species in Nok-Ka-Rean Field
(4) 69 species in Mae Ramphueng Mangrove Forest and
(5) 48 species in evergreen rain forest plain of Pa Klang Aow Natural Park.
Based on the above information, it can be seen that the forests around Sahaviriya Steelworks in Bangsaphan district are still abundant and remain the habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. There is diversity of various species of wild animals in each study area.
The data reflects that the steel industry is considered environmentally friendly. Besides conducting the biodiversity survey, the Company’s operations were also followed the pollution management standards of the Company and of Sahaviriya Steel Group continually to prevent impact to livelihood of wildlife living in natural areas around the plant, and also protect natural conditions and restores biodiversity to sustain the natural resources for the local community.
Climate Change Management
TThe Company recognized and prioritized climate change, so it prepared to handle the challenge and strive to operate continuously along with the setting up a policy framework and a clear and comprehensive approach to greenhouse gas emissions. Such efforts reflected SSI’s readiness to transform into a low-carbon organization and to drive the operation on greenhouse gas reduction works in accordance with the national policy. With a commitment to conduct and be a good role model on managing greenhouse gases generated by corporate activities continuously, the Company has established policies, plans, and appointed SSI Group Climate Action Committee, as well as arranged campaigns to regularly participate in activities with the people sectors and the public sectors to mitigate the effects of the intense greenhouse gas problems which have tendency to increase continually through various projects. The activities consist of:
1. Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions of the Organization
The Company continuously monitored and managed greenhouse gas emissions from its operations at the corporate level. In 2024, the Company was certified “Carbon Footprint for Organization (CFO)” by Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (Public Organization) (TGO) which the Company uses the calculation principles according to the ISO 14064-1 (Specification with guidance at the organization level) for preparation of greenhouse gas emissions which has been verified by a third-party verifier, Lloyd Register International (Thailand) Co., Ltd. The Company has used this process for greenhouse gas management and report greenhouse gas emission result at the organization level continuously. In 2023, total greenhouse gas emission (Scope I and Scope II) was 202,331 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (or tCO2e), decreased by 12.51 percent compared to 2022 because the energy usage management plan has been better and more efficiently controlled.
Greenhouse Gas Emission of SSI (Unit: tonnes of CO2 equivalent)
| Greenhouse Gas Emission | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct greenhouse gas emission (Scope I) | 141,469 | 141,469 | 118,231 |
| Indirect greenhouse gas emission (Scope II) | 102,306 | 87,042 | 84,100 |
| Total | 243,775 | 231,260 | 202,331 |