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Last Updated on 15/12/2021
Ecology And Environment


Care for the environment was but a natural choice for NRL, as a modern, state of the art industry, surrounded by lush green environs, supposedly one of richest store house of flora and fauna. The serene and sloping tea gardens, forestland with thick foliage with diverse animal population, have been seamlessly taken in to coexist with the refinery. The Township for its Residents has been constructed keeping in view that the natural topography of the area is not disturbed.

NRL has been pursuing a focused programme towards environmental protection by adopting safe and eco-friendly technologies, sound design and engineering practices. The Company has a well defined Environment Management System (EMS) under ISO 14001, OSHAS 18001 and ISRS Protocols. In Environment Management systems, NRL has ben upgraded and certified against the latest version of the standard i.e ISO 14001: 2015 replacing the earlier ISO 14001: 1996 which it earned immediately after commissioning. In the year 2014, NRL has been certified for Energy Management System under ISO 50001.and sustaining successfully thereafter. A dedicated environment management cell is working continuously for improvement, monitoring, safeguarding and reporting of environmental issues of the refinery. In recognition of its efforts for excellent environment management, NRL has been awarded the Green tech Environmental excellence award for four consecutive years viz 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06.

NRL puts greatest importance to spread the awareness of environment protection in an extensive way, not only amongst its employees, but also amongst the masses, who form the immediate neighborhood of the refinery. Besides conducting programs for its employees on environmental issues, programs and talks are conducted for the neighboring villagers to educate them on environmental conservation issues. World Environment day is celebrated on 5th of June every year encompassing not only the employees but the people in the neighbourhood. Environment related issues are circulated regularly over the company Intranet . Environmental policy is displayed in many a strategic location in order to ensure that the same does not slip out of the employees' minds.

Some Major Initiatives Taken by NRL Towards Environmental Conservation Are As Follows:

  • Environment Friendly Process & Equipment: Selection of process technologies and equipment was done with special care for environmental protection. Hydrocarbon technology has been incorporated to produce low sulphur products. Equipment like low NOx burners and low noise rotary equipment were considered at the time of selection
  • Environment Friendly Fuels: The Refinery produces environment friendly fuels complying to National and International standards to minimize vehicular emissions. As a part of the continuous efforts for reduction of pollution, NRL also produces Ultra Law Sulphur High Speed Diesel having less than 0.05% sulphur conforming to Euro - II specification by in-house development with existing refinery configuration without any additional capital investment. This contributes for reducing pollution from diesel vehicle due to the reduction of emission of Sulphur dioxide.To meet the future requirement of environment friendly motor car fuel NRL is presently implementing a Motor Spirit project, which is nearing completion to produce MS conforming to EURO-III quality specifications. Presently NRL produces BS-II/Euro-III grade HSD without additional capital investment up to a limited capacity utilisation. M/s CLG has been engaged for low cost revamp of Hydrocracker unit for the production of environmental friendly diesel fuel conforming to EURO-III specifications at rated capacity.
  • Minimum Generation of Waste: In-built measures have been adopted to minimize and control pollution and generation of waste in all the units with proper collection and disposal system.
  • Adequate Segregation, Collection & Treatment Facilities: Adequate segregation, collection and treatment facilities for centralized treatment of waste water has been provided to meet the stringent standard laid down by MINAS.
  • Unique Ground Flare System: To avoid any adverse impact of the flare on animals in the Kaziranga National Park, a non-illuminating ground flare has been incorporated, which is one of the firsts in the country.
  • Sulphur Recovery Plant: Inspite of processing low sulphur Assam Crude a sulphur recovery unit has been incorporated and installed.
  • High Stack Height & Strict Emissions Monitoring: In order to reduce the ground level concentration of pollutants, stack heights have been kept between 60 to 77 metres. Facilities for continuous monitoring of Sox, NOx etc have been provided for all the furnace stacks and low NOx burners have been used in all the furnaces.
  • Effluent Treatment Plant with Latest Technology: Centralized modern Effluent Treatment Plant having tertiary treatment facilities has been installed. Also , the ETP includes a three-stage oil recovery system from the wastewater and high efficiency centrifuge for recovering oil from the oily sludge.
  • Solid Waste Management: Solid waste namely the oily sludge, biological sludge, spent catalyst etc. are disposed off by using deep buried technology (Secure landfill) as suggested by NEERI, Nagpur. A melting pit has been developed for recovering oil from the sludge generated in the units. After recovering the oil, remaining part will be disposed off in the secured landfill.

Steps Taken by NRL for Conserving the Habitat & the Surrounding:

  • Green Belt: The Refinery and its marketing terminal is surrounded by a green belt covering 70 hectares of land, which, other than retaining and enhancing the greenery, renders a perfect natural barrier to the industrial noise and minor air pollutants from reaching the immediate surroundings, both human population and the rich flora and fauna.
  • Natural Topography of the Township Undisturbed: The Refinery Township has been constructed without disturbing the natural topography of the region. This has served to conserve the environment and at the same time enhanced the aesthetic beauty of the Township.
  • Butterfly Park: Keeping environment as its prime concern, NRL envisaged an ambitious experimental project for the first time in the country. This unique plan involved the setting up of a "Butterfly Eco system" in the township area which tries to give a natural habitat for butterflies to come, stay and breed in their natural way.
  • Smritibon: A unique herbal garden of rare medicinal plants has been developed in the Township. This garden is aptly called the garden of remembrance, a noble idea of commemorating the memories of beloved ones by planting herbal plants in their names.
  • Diversion of NH-39: In order to reduce congestion and ensure safety for traffic on NH-39, a bye pass road has been constructed parallel to the Refinery.
  • Ambient Air Monitoring: Continuous monitoring stations have been set up at many locations in and around the vicinity of the Refinery in order to ensure that strict control of ambient air in and around the vicinity of the area is maintained, so that the flora and the fauna are not disturbed. It has ensures that the natural habitat of the wild animals of Kaziranga National Park is not affected in any way.
  • Online Display Board: The magnetic display Board, which was inaugurated on 5th June, 2004 at the Refinery main gate provides online information relating to Sulphur di-oxide and nitrogen oxide emission from the Refinery.

The measures implemented by NRL as a part of continual improvement in the field of environment conservation :

  • Implementation of Hydrogen Peroxide Treatment : In pursuance of the latest developments, H2O2 treatment process has been introduced for the chemical treatment of wastewater in the ETP by replacing the conventional Ferric Chloride process. Introduction of this technique has drastically reduced the solid waste generation
  • Installation of oil traps in the Storm Water drains : Seven numbers of oil traps have been installed in the refinery storm water system as a preventive measure to eliminate any possibility of oil carry over to rain water drain
  • Regular Environment Audit : After starting of commercial production, NEERI was engaged for the post-commissioning environmental audit of the refinery. According to their findings, the performance of the environment management system and facilities is very good and the environment management practices of NRL are in compliance of the standards set by pollution control boards and other regulatory authorities.