Grupa Azoty Polyolefins S.A. reports that on February 27, 2024, controlled hydrocarbon flaring occurred at the Polimery Police project site. Increased flare activity is characterized by a visible light effect from a distance and may also produce a sound effect. In some cases, black smoke may be visible in addition to the flame. The formation of black smoke is due to an insufficient amount of added steam, preventing its formation, during a sudden larger, temporary, unforeseen (emergency) influx of hydrocarbons to the flare. This lasts for a few minutes until the appropriate amount of steam is added. During normal operation, when there is a stable or planned release of hydrocarbons, steam is added simultaneously or in advance, preventing the formation of black smoke.
Hydrocarbon flaring is a fully safe process for the installation, employees, and residents of the Police district. The amount of hydrocarbons released to the flare is within the design parameters of the flare. The flare, standing at 128 meters high, along with the entire release system, ensures the safe discharge of vent gases from the installation during normal operations, startup, shutdown, and emergencies, by burning them at the top of the flare. The venting process is driven by technological conditions related to the chemical plant's operations. This is a commonly used element in the process safety management system in such plants globally.
Flaring is a source of typical combustion pollutants (nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide; sulfur dioxide emissions are not expected due to the lack of sulfur in the process streams), as well as residual volatile organic compounds that were not fully combusted.
A continuous monitoring system based on control systems and industrial cameras is in place at the Polimery Police project site to ensure the quality of the combustion process. Continuous monitoring reports on individual installations at Grupa Azoty Zakłady Chemiczne "Police" S.A., which are adjacent to the Polimery Police installation, did not show any exceedances of SO2 emissions on February 27, 2024.
The operation of the Grupa Azoty Polyolefins S.A. installation in Police does not exceed air quality standards and poses no environmental threat regarding the impact of emissions on air quality. On December 15, 2022, Grupa Azoty Polyolefins obtained an Integrated Permit for the Polimery Police installation issued by the Marshal of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship.
We kindly ask the residents of the Police district for their understanding. Currently, the installation is in the startup phase, during which noise and light effects may occur. Increased flare activity may continue for the next few days due to the replacement of components in the installation.
Ongoing information regarding nuisances is sent to representatives of the villages adjacent to the installation and posted on the company's website in the NEWS section.