To print this page, click here. To return to the regular view of this page, click here.
What are Keywords?
Print
Text Size
NormalMediumLarge

Emissions to Air

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Natural gas and other inputs are required in fertilizer manufacture for feedstock and energy, thereby generating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2).

PotashCorp's GHG emissions (as CO2 equivalent) in 2007 totaled just over 9.0 million tonnes, from two main sources:

  • Carbon dioxide in flue gases from potash, phosphate and nitrogen operations.
  • Carbon dioxide in process gases from nitrogen operations.
Table Icon Direct Greenhouse Gas Emissions

DIRECT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
(000 tonnes) 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Carbon Dioxide (flue) 3,869 3,324 3,413 3,079 3,507
Carbon Dioxide (process) 2,485 2,412 2,769 3,066 3,170
Nitrous Oxide (as CO2 equivalent)* 2,122 1,981 1,985 1,992 2,295
Methane (as CO2 equivalent)* 24 24 32 29 32
Total GHGs (as CO2 equivalent) 8,500 7,741 8,199 8,166 9,004
* GHG emissions require a conversion factor to reach reported totals as CO2 equivalents.
Source: PotashCorp

GHG emissions increased in 2007 because of higher production rates in nitrogen, which accounted for more than 84 percent of the total GHG emissions. The amount of GHG emissions per tonne of product company–wide actually decreased as shown in Normalized GHG.

Normalized GHG

GHG emissions at PotashCorp's operations are normalized by the amount of the nutrient that is shipped as product in each of its three divisions: KCl in potash, N in nitrogen and P2O5 in phosphate. Normalized GHG emissions in potash declined significantly between 2003 and 2007, mainly as the process has become more efficient with greater production. The normalized GHG emissions in nitrogen fluctuated between 2003 and 2007 as the production of products such as ammonia, nitric acid and urea fluctuated. In the phosphate operations, the GHG emissions are normalized against phosphoric acid production (on a P2O5 basis). The normalized GHG emissions in phosphate from 2003 to 2007 also fluctuated as the mix of products fluctuated.

Table Icon Normalized GHGs by Division

NORMALIZED GHGs BY DIVISION
(tonnes GHGs/tonne of product) 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Potash 0.06 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05
Nitrogen 2.77 2.57 2.66 2.71 2.54
Phosphate 0.46 0.42 0.43 0.41 0.48
Company-wide 2.41 2.22 2.30 2.36 2.20
Source: PotashCorp

PotashCorp has set a target of reducing its normalized GHG rate by 10 percent over the next five years. This is a company–wide target which encompasses all three divisions. The company–wide normalized GHG emissions are a weighted average of the normalized emissions at each division. The weighting factor is absolute GHGs. A weighted average was used, so actual GHG emission reductions will be required to meet the target. Without a weighted average, the target could be met through the currently planned expansions in potash if production levels in the other divisions stayed about the same. What the company is doing to meet this target and other climate change issues is discussed in the Carbon Management Strategy.

Indirect Greenhouse Gas Emissions

GHG emissions that result from purchased electricity used by PotashCorp operations were 3.3 million tonnes in 2007.

Climate Change Subcommittee

The Sustainability Committee formed a Climate Change Subcommittee in 2007 whose members are the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel, Vice President of Safety, Health and Environment, Vice President of Operations for Phosphate and Nitrogen and Manager of Sustainability. This group began to develop a carbon management strategy for the company, setting three guiding principles:

  1. Ensuring compliance with future regulations in the most effective and cost–efficient manner.
  2. Protecting PotashCorp's good reputation with regard to sustainability.
  3. Exploring opportunities to generate revenue in new regulatory frameworks.

For more information about PotashCorp's carbon management strategy, including the company's role in agricultural GHG emissions and other activities it is involved in, see the story on the right-hand side of this page.

Criteria Air Pollutants

Criteria air pollutants are regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency and other national agencies because, in significant concentrations above ambient air standards, they can provide health concerns, harm the environment and damage property. The current criteria pollutants are carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, lead and ozone. The company does not track its lead emissions since they are negligible.

Emissions of criteria air pollutants have fluctuated over time.

Table Icon Criteria Air Pollutants

Criteria Air Pollutants

CRITERIA AIR POLLUTANTS
(000 tonnes) 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Nitrogen Oxides 8.0 7.0 6.6 6.6 7.1
Carbon Monoxide 8.9 8.9 5.3 6.2 12.0
Particulates (dust) 4.3 4.4 4.7 4.0 4.6
Sulfur Dioxide 14.7 15.9 17.2 14.6 15.0
Source: PotashCorp

Other Significant Air Emissions

PotashCorp produces no ozone–depleting substances. It uses small amounts of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in refrigeration and cooling systems but as these systems are upgraded, it is eliminating CFC use.

Table Icon Other Significant Air Emissions

Other Significant Air Emissions

OTHER SIGNIFICANT AIR EMISSIONS
(000 tonnes) 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Volatile Organic Compounds 1.53 1.61 1.18 1.07 1.44
Ammonia 7.24 6.54 7.70 6.50 8.87
Fluoride n/a 0.0019 0.034 0.045 0.055
Hydrogen Sulfide 1.40 1.37 1.28 1.30 1.20
Sulfuric Acid Mist 0.18 0.15 0.15 0.17 0.188
n/a = not available
Source: PotashCorp

PotashCorp Develops Carbon Management Strategy to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

PotashCorp has developed a carbon management strategy to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and its operations' carbon footprint, along with a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions per tonne of production by 10 percent between 2007 and 2012.

read full article »
Carbon Management Feature