Dneproshina LTD Steers Toward Energy Conservation

An Interview

"A program for energy conservation is a must for the economy and the environmental protection alike. It must be a priority in all areas of production management," says Yu.I. Anisimov, the tire company's Manager, Labor Safety and Environment Protection. He further added:

The public joint stock company is one of the biggest in the Lower Dnieper region, having 7,500 employees and an annual output of 2,500,000 tires of 82 types and sizes. Although we work at almost full capacity, we are lacking circulating funds. Instability of the country's legislation and economy, low paying capacity of the customers, and our own investments in the agricultural sector are responsible for that condition. In the past three years, Dneproshina purchased and leased to farmers 590 pieces of machinery like tractors and combine harvesters whose price totals to an equivalent of $20,000,000. Also, we released a lot of tires to the agricultural industry on preferential terms, although nobody gives the company any tax deductions or soft credits. In spite of all that, we are committed to environment protection, especially as it pays back.

Ours is an energy-intensive industry. This makes energy conservation a top priority. We save power, get profits and reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide etc.

For these purposes, we employ a Brotep small-size cooling tower and use heat of process water to provide hot water to the company's residential area.

We purchased 180 steam traps from Armstrong and Reefox and ultrasonic/cavitation units for liquid fuel preparation at our boilers.

Our annual savings were thus conservatively estimated at an equivalent of $75,000. Our further plans include collaboration with World Environment Center to incorporate a 400-point system of automated environmental monitoring system and certification to ISO 9000.