Sidenor Corporate Report 2019

44 Corporate report 2019 | Environment We are constantly searching for new ways of reducing the use of resources and minimising the impact of our activity. Emissions We have made significant investments to reduce our atmospheric emissions, both in terms of particles and greenhouse gases. In particular, in 2019, we installed extractor hoods in the laboratory and the Elind furnaces in our plant in Basauri, with their corresponding purification systems, in order to mitigate atmospheric pollution. In addition, we are associated with the electric mix of energy suppliers with which we cooperate, and we work directly with them to increase the share of renewable energies. With respect to noise pollution, we carry out annual noise studies and measurements in our main plants, in order to mitigate its individual and collective impact, when appropriate, for example by installing noise- absorbing panels. We have also taken measures aimed at reducing our light pollution, and we are in the middle of a comprehensive process of replacing the traditional lighting of our centres by LED lights which reduce energy consumption. For example, in 2019, we replaced the lighting by LED lights in the rolling mill area of our plant in Azkoitia. Energy Using resources in a more efficient way allows us to reduce our consumption and boost the decarbonisation of the economy. In 2019, we improved the equipment in our centres, which led to a lower energy consumption. For example, in our Basauri plant, the efficiency improvement and the reduction in ladle drying and heating times led to a natural gas consumption reduction by 26%. On the other side, the elimination of one of the vacuum installations together with the installation of the economiser on the Babcock boiler carried out last year led to a 6% decrease in the use of gas. In our Reinosa plant, we achieved savings of 25% in natural gas consumption, corresponding to 1,312MWh. Among the most relevant measures implemented in order to achieve this reduction are the installation of locks in the doors, the reduction of annealing times and the implementation of annual thermographies in order to detect possible thermal leaks. Likewise, in Basauri, measures were also implemented in order to reduce compressed air consumption in the finishing department: the automation of electrovalves at the exit of various installations and the regulation of the different lines. This led to a 39% reduction of compressed air use. eduction With all these initiatives - in the form of investments and participation in projects - we managed to reduce CO 2 emissions in order to adapt to the consequences of climate change