The facility's heating plant, which consists of three boilers fueled by methane gas, generates the steam necessary for production. The plant's cogeneration system also uses methane gas to produce electrical energy and the heat from the exhaust fumes is used to produce steam and hot water. Inalca wanted to reduce site water and energy consumption, reduce total cost of operation, and improve site process operations.
Inalca worked with Nalco Water (an Ecolab company) to improve boiler asset reliability, reduce water and energy use, and improve water reuse.
Inalca says its vision of sustainable development is dictated by the economic, environmental and social challenges that develop within its supply chain.
By 2030, the world will need 40 percent more water — and that’s just a global average. In many of the fastest-developing regions, where an estimated three billion people will join the global consumer class over the next two decades, the gap will be larger, and it is being felt already, according to Ecolab. Today, less than three percent of wastewater is recycled.
