Environmental protection management is key priority to our business and to the community we operate in. Locally, our diverse and scattered operations have distinct environmental, social and health risks associated to each location. These are guided by our Integrated Management System (IMS) Manual, which outlines the systemic approach towards identifying, assessing, managing and monitoring these aspects. It starts with understanding and complying with local regulations as set by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment. Our internal tools to identify potential risks include conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Hazard Identification (ENVID) processes. These tools feed into each facility's Risk Register to guide the implementation of mitigation and monitoring strategies aimed at effectively managing impacts and their associated risks. We integrate stakeholder engagement into this effort throughout the asset life cycle.
Water management
WOQOD is dedicated to minimize its water consumption and discharges. Our total water consumption includes use by car washing facilities, LPG bottling plant and product storage and loading facilities. Most of our water consumption occurs in car wash facilities. The car wash machines in all service stations include water-recycling systems enabling the reuse of 90% of the water used to clean cars.
We acknowledge our responsibility for conservation in our water stressed environment. Therefore, we have implemented local water management approaches in each location to utilize recycled municipal and industrial wastewater for irrigation within our fence.
Spill management
WOQOD approach is to prevent spills from occurring and establishes fast recovery response measures. All our transport and storage operations are subject to risk assessments, evaluations of prevention and mitigation measures and is targeted by our maintenance and inspection programs.
We have implemented enhanced systems and are applying observations processes on our tanks and vehicles. These systems data and observation data are analyzed to identify system integrity gaps for risk management.
Our underground storage tanks at Petrol Stations are double skinned and have leak detection systems fitted. Alarm systems are automatically activated if there is any leakage through the inner wall of the tanks so avoiding any chance of soil pollution.
Air emissions
We monitor emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) to be compliant with Ministry of Environment levels set about by its Certificate to Operate license. Additionaly we have equipped our road tankers to take gasoline vapors from storage tanks at the same time as they are filling the tanks. These vapors are returned to the fuels depot where a recycling system returns the to liquid gasoline so avoiding the venting of vapors to the air.
