Let it rain

Beijing's new National Stadium (the Bird's Nest) recycles rainwater that helps keep the facility and its surroundings clean and cool for the Olympics and beyond.

China National Chemical Corp (ChemChina) built the rain recycling system.

The Bird's Nest has six water collection and storage tanks with a total capacity of 12,000 cu m, and thousands of inlets spread over the roof and lawn that are being used for the same purpose.

The rainfall utilization system has adopted membrane separation technology that includes three levels filters: sand filtration, "ultrafiltration", and sodium filtration; three processes of filtration, which can remove dirt and grit particles, bacteria and macromolecule organic material from the collected water.

The system has an annual capacity of processing about 67,000 cu m of reclaimed water.

The recycled water will be used for washing the stadium, roads, toilets, and garages and for cooling air conditioners, as well as irrigating the land around the venue.

About 70 percent of the water supply at Bird's Nest is recycled water, while 23 percent is recycled rainwater.

What ChemChina contributed to the Bird's Nest, is one of many steps it is taking towards being a responsible and eco-friendly enterprise.

ChemChina, the nation's largest chemical maker, has set a series of targets for zero emissions and integrated them into the company's management and production.

Now it has become a leader in the Chinese chemical industry in energy conservation and emission reductions.

In 2007, it invested 800 million yuan in these efforts. During the first 11 months of 2007, 18 of its key subsidiaries saved 222,600 tons of coal equivalent, lowering its energy intensity by more than 7 percent.

The emission of major pollutants was reduced by two percent in 2007.

"Emissions control is our important priority in 2008," says Ren Jianxin, president of ChemChina. Around 1.5 billion yuan is expected to invest in emissions control programs.

In 2008, ChemChina will reduce the energy consumption of unit output value by seven percent, while the discharge of waste water, carbon dioxide, COD, and sulfur dioxide will be lowered by more than three percent.

Ren says several pilot projects have been launched aim to achieve the zero emission targets.

BlueStar Petroleum Co Ltd Tianjin Branch, a subsidiary of ChemChina, has started 11 projects, including treatment and recycling of oil-containing wastewater, reconstruction of the desulphurization and dust removal unit of a coal-fired boiler and frequency conversion technology in a 6,000 V high-voltage generator.

Once all 11 projects are completed, they will yield direct benefits exceeding 15 million yuan to the company.

Besides, ChemChina will not approve any new project, which cannot satisfy its emissions standards. The company will also close plants that can't meet its emissions targets within the prescribed time.

ChemChina will further spread energy-saving technologies, reform existing facilities and improve management in a bid to realize all-round zero discharge in the company.

The company will also intensify maintenance of environmental protection facilities.

And the supervision system at ChemChina will be improved in order to obtain immediate information about emissions for the company's executives. The supervision is mainly focusing on 21 energy-consuming subsidiaries, and regular inspections will be carried out.

"From 2008, all companies under ChemChina will make their own specific plans on energy and the environment," Ren says.

(China Daily 05/19/2008 page5)