AO Vostochny Port, operator of Russia’s largest dedicated coal port (run by Port Management Company, PMC LLC) says it is upgrading the aspiration systems and wall covering at its coal transfer stations. The purpose is to prevent small particles of coal from leaving the stations when cargo is transported by conveyor lines.
The project provides for the aspiration systems to be equipped with new powerful dust-collecting units able to process 60,000 cbm of air per hour each (to be put into operation in January 2019) as well as the change of wall covering, reroofing, replacement of windows and doors.
“The aspiration systems are installed in the wagon dump buildings and transfer stations of the existing coal handling facilities and those under construction as part of Phase 3 project. More than 20 facilities to undergo modernization in 2018-2019”, said Yevgeny Arekhta, Chief Engineer of AO Vostochny Port.
Transition to closed handling of coal complies with the comprehensive environmental programme being implemented by AO Vostochny Port and OOO Port Management Company according to the agreement signed by RF Transport Ministry, Rosprirodnadzor, Rosmorport and Primorsky Territory Administration at Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF, May 2018). Investments of the port holding into the programme will exceed RUB 1.4 billion.
The package of environment protection measures provides for modernization and installation of hi-tech equipment for dust catching/suppression including construction of wind screens. The company’s own accredited laboratory will continue regular environment monitoring to control the atmospheric air, industrial waters and waters of Vrangel bay.
From the beginning of the year, Vostochny Port acquired four dust suppression machines, four snow generators, two sweeping vacuum cleaning machines. The company is building a 20-meter high wind protection screen surrounding Phase 3 of the coal terminal (1.7 km long) and upgrading the sprinkling system used at the outdoor storage sites.
AO Vostochny Port is the first coal port in the Far East that obtained a certificate of compliance with ISO 14001:2015 “Environmental Management System: Requirements and Application Guide.”
Within the period from 2012 until 2017, “Managing Port Company, LLC” and JSC “Vostochny Port” invested 1.2 billion rubles in the retrofitting of the equipment, treatment plants and wind shields, the replenishment of marine bio resources and ecological campaigns.