A leader must be a leader in everything and principally to keep one step ahead in technologies. “NIBULON” approaches its 20th anniversary victoriously! This company has been recognized as a leader of the agro-industrial complex of Ukraine for a long time. The award for introducing the latest technologies in energy efficiency is the fact that this superiority is achieved not in an extensive way.
In order to reduce consumption of natural gas during processing and storage of grain, the company installs new modern burning devices and silos with active ventilation systems on 14 dryers. The investment of USD 15 million will save about 10 million cubic meters of natural gas worth USD 3 million per year. An additional positive result of the investment will also be increased product quality – avoidance of mechanical damage and breakage, color and scent shifts, achievement of stable process of grain drying. The large gas savings will also significantly reduce carbon dioxide emission rate by 18 thousand tons per year, which equals to annual emission rate of 8 thousand cars. Thus, energy efficiency will also have a substantial environmental benefit.
This innovative activity had not to remain unnoticed. November 14, 2011 the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development recognized “NIBULON” as a winner of Ukrainian Energy Efficiency Program (UKEEP) in the category “Project with the largest energy efficiency.” Symbolically, “NIBULON” received such an honorable recognition just on the eve of its 20th anniversary! Authoritative international jury unanimously recognized that energy efficiency program, introduced in “NIBULON” gives the largest energy savings from all three hundred programs that participated in the competition.
Curiously enough, among the winners in five categories – four companies are related to agro-industrial complex and only one – to metallurgy. Obviously, people who by nature of their activities are closer to the ground, better feel the importance of environmental protection measures and are more willing to implement resource-saving technologies. Energy efficiency program (UKEEP) introduced in 2007 by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development helps them in this.
In total, the projects funded under UKEEP, allowed saving 2.2 MWh per year, in terms of energy consumption it is approximately equal to large megacities, such as Odesa or Kharkiv. The total reduction in carbon emissions as a result of the program UKEEP in Ukraine amounts to 520 thousand tons, it is similar to annual emissions of 220 000 cars.
“We were very impressed how the Ukrainian market reacted to this initiative of the EBRD as to promotion of energy efficiency. I am very pleased that the number of companies involved in energy efficiency increases. Obviously, there is a demand for such projects in Ukraine. In the near future, the EBRD intends to allocate additional resources and start similar programs for promotion of energy efficiency,” the EBRD Director in Ukraine Andre Kuusvek said during the ceremony.
Receiving award from manager of the program of UKEEP Jim Disenstam, the chief engineer of “NIBULON”, Oleg Pidgorodets’kyy said, “Everything started with a dream. The dream of our Director General, Hero of Ukraine, Oleksiy Vadaturskyy to create in our region a company that would work at the level of the best international examples and overpass them in many ways. He did wisely – he sent young specialists to Europe and America, so they can become familiar with the best technologies that are currently working in leading agro-industrial complexes in the world.”
It is not a secret that the most energy-intensive process, reduce the cost of which has not been possible yet, was grain processing. About 70% of all electricity is used for the process of grain drying consumed in its post-processing. Familiarity with advanced technologies of the U.S., domestic developments in this field, mastering of the most advanced technologies, which also has been improved by experts of “NIBULON”, has cut the cost of drying grain in more than half.
“We will always remember, this has become the motto of “NIBULON” that the land on which we live, is inherited from fathers, but what is more important – we have borrowed it from our children. We therefore appreciate the EBRD`s assistance in realization of investment projects that allow saving our environment in order to leave the land for our children cleaner than we received it from our fathers, ” Oleg Pidgorodets’kyy said.
The path of the company is accompanied by brilliant labor victories like the opening of modern elevator systems, launching of tugs. In this pre-holiday period the company reaps the benefit of its long hard work: new honorary title and awards, recognition of serious international organizations and financial institutions. “NIBULON” is confidently reaching its 20th anniversary!