VKG for the good of the environment
Social responsibilityThe biggest employer in Kohtla-Järve and one of the biggest Estonian industrial enterprises, VKG originates from the year 1924, when the first Oil Shale Processing Industry in Estonia started its operation. In remembrance of these old days there is a tower of one of the former rectification units being conserved in the territory of the plant, which the company projects to turn to oil shale processing museum in the future.
The three still operating to this day oil shale processing plants of the company were constructed between 1930 and 1985. Unfortunately, at the time of the construction of these plants the environment protection did not make industrial priority. Under the Soviet time, smoky plant chimneys were considered as an intended effect illustrating the power of the Soviet industry, and not as an unwanted harmful by-action.
Established in 1999, the private enterprise Viru Keemia Grupp from the very beginning of its activity was under the necessity of modifying and improving its running production, first taking into account modern requirements to production, then – rigorous EC standards of environmental protection. 10 years after the enterprise started its operation, all the oil shale processing plants of VKG fully satisfy the European requirements of environmental protection, and the concern itself has become one of the biggest investors into production in the modern Estonian history.
A large-scale reorganization of the oil shale processing plants was completed by 2007, thereby production of liquid waste stopped, and aerial effluents related hereto ceased. Also, a reconstruction of the generators took place, thereby the actual content of organic matter in semi-coke does not exceed 6 %.
In 2007 the enterprise stopped wet storage of semi-coke, and a modern storage area for waste products of oil shale processing was made ready.
An up-to-date sulphur recovery unit was put into operation in 2008 at VKG Energia, subsidiary of VKG company, and it is the only such unit available today in Estonia.
In 2008 preparatory works started to fully close the semi-coke disposal site being in use since the beginning of the last century.
In 2009 VKG finished the construction of a new oil shale processing plant which would operate by a technology of low environmental impact.
The company investments made during 10 years of its operation amount to over 3 bln 528 mln Kroons.
