Austin Powder recognizes the importance of managing water responsibly to reduce environmental impact and aligns its efforts with a dedicated water consumption strategy.
Austin Powder continues to prioritize responsible water management to reduce environmental impact. In 2024, the company enhanced data consistency and refined its methodology for calculating water consumption, based on water withdrawn minus water discharged, across all reporting units. This led to some revisions of the 2023 data.
Most water use occurred at the Juramento and USN facilities, accounting for over 86% of total consumption, primarily due to ammonium nitrate production. LATAM and North America had the highest usage by region, though LATAM achieved a 14% reduction compared to 2023 through targeted efficiency initiatives.
At Juramento, improved flow meter calibration and optimization efforts reduced effluent discharge, steam and demineralized water usage, and ammonium nitrate losses.
The decommissioning of the nitric acid plant in Mexico and shift to rail-based ANSOL and ammonium nitrate supply led to a 43% drop in water use there. The closure of Minera Panamá further reduced regional consumption. In contrast, water use in the USA & Canada rose by 22%, driven by increased production at USN and Red Diamond. However, Red Diamond improved effluent quality by eliminating ammonia in the PETN process, making wastewater less toxic and reducing treatment volume.
Austin Powder remains committed to reducing water use and pollution through global initiatives focused on conservation, process optimization, effluent reduction, rainwater harvesting, steam system improvements, and regular water audits.
At the Intrachem plant in Zimbabwe, a water reuse initiative was implemented with the construction of a reservoir to capture rainwater, designated as a reservoir containing water to put out fires. Since 2024 it has been at 50% of its capacity. This reservoir will serve as a critical source of water. In addition to the benefits of re-using water, it will also contribute to local biodiversity by being a watering hole for wildlife.
Due to design constraints, the PETN plant was unable to operate at its full 400 kg/h capacity. As one of the world’s largest PETN producers, the facility is vital to both Austin Powder and Red Diamond. A major issue was the high volume and toxicity of wastewater from the neutralization and crystallization process, which strained the treatment system. In 2024, a cross-functional team identified and implemented process changes that resolved the issue, enabling full-capacity operation while meeting discharge limits and improving treatment efficiency.
Several key initiatives were implemented in 2024 to reduce the environmental impact and optimize the use of resources. As a result, the company achieved annual savings of $869,724 USD, driven primarily by steam recovery, product recovery and a reduction in demineralized water consumption.
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