Our commitment as a socially responsible company means that we operate our facilities in a manner that protects people and the environment and preserves our world for future generations.
Operational Excellence. Operational Excellence is Lyondell’s broadly institutionalized and disciplined management system to achieve reliable and measurable performance that enables us to drive continuous improvement in every aspect of our business. This management system includes the Manufacturing Operational Excellence Principles of Safety and Health, Environment, Quality, Reliability, Cost and Efficiency, People, and Community.
OSHA STAR Site. The Matagorda site is certified as a STAR site within the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). This is OSHA’s highest level of recognition for safety processes and performance in the workplace. The Matagorda site celebrated its tenth anniversary as a VPP STAR site in 2006.
Safety Performance. Heightened awareness to safety programs is helping the plant work towards its goal of an injury-free workplace.
Recognitions. The Matagorda plant received the Texas Chemical Council's (TCC) Caring for Texas Award and the Occupational Safety Distinguished Service award for achieving exemplary result and demonstrating an ongoing commitment to safe operations, community awareness, and pollution prevention. The plant also received a Gold Award for Meritorious Safety Performance from the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association (NPRA) for its accomplishments in 2005.
Environmental. The Matagorda Complex continues to drive improvements in enviromental performance. Combined air emissions of volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and carbon monoxide have decreased by 22 percent since 2003. These emissions are well below permitted levels. Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) air emissions, as defined by EPA, have decreased dramatically from 114 tons in 2003 to 28 tons in 2005, a 75 percent reduction. The high efficiency of the plant's flare system and an enhanced emission monitoring program are resulting in significant emissions reductions.
Energy Efficiency. An aggressive 31-point program initiated in 1998 to improve plant energy efficiency is resulting in annual energy cost savings of nearly $2 million.
Waste Minimization. Program aimed at finding ways to minimize waste are resulting in positive efforst at the Matagorda site. The plant reduces waste by finding alternatives to waste disposal. For example, one of the plant's by-products, named process fuel oil, is used as a direct substitute in an oil field application.