OREANDA-NEWS. September 2, 2010. Over the past 5 years, the Bratsk Branch of OJSC Ilim Group (Irkutsk Oblast) has lowered its load on the environment by 4%. For instance, the Mill’s emissions, which amounted to 5,800 tons in 2005, were reduced to 5,600 tons in 2009.

Contaminant emissions into water bodies over the same timespan were cut by 10,200 tons per year (9%), while the amounts of waste disposed in sludge collectors dropped by 173 tons per year (24%). The Mill has also cut back its annual industrial water consumption by 14,800 tons (9%).

It is worth noting that the significant reduction of the environmental impact was accompanied by continuously increasing production output.

This was made possible due to the Mill’s focused efforts to lighten its load on the environment. The Bratsk Branch of Ilim Group implements an extensive environmental action plan every year. Among the latest developments were the rebuild and upgrade of the industrial wastewater treatment facilities, sludge collector reclamation, and installation of local plants for treating gas emissions.

Moreover, in 2010 Ilim Group has embarked on a major investment project to install a new fiberline in Bratsk. The key objective of the project is to upgrade the existing facilities and add new capacities. Substantial reduction of the environmental impact is expected once the project is implemented.

"Our Company's goals revolve around the implementation of our investment program aimed at upgrading our existing mills, constructing new production lines, introducing cutting-edge technologies and manufacturing higher added value products. At the same time, our objective is to minimize the impact our mills make on the environment while increasing our capacities," says Mr. Paul Herbert, CEO of Ilim Group.