At El Golfo we are firmly committed to the protection of the environment, not just because of our duties towards the community, but also because we understand that the sustainability of our business depends on a healthy and clean environment. Environmental considerations enter into every stage of the design and fitting of our facilities as well as in production planning.
By putting the most advanced technology in the hands of highly qualified workers we can reach high volumes of production with efficiency and care for the environment.
The company has invested over us$15 millions in state-of-the-art clean production technology and thanks to a closed-circuit implemented among our plants, all the solid waste is reprocessed as raw material for the Fishmeal and Fish oil plants.
El Golfo adheres to the principles of Sustainable Development, according to which every industrial activity must be carried on in harmony with the environment and taking into account the right of the generations to come to live in an environmentally viable world.
Therefore, we take every precaution to avoid causing harm to people or Nature.
Besides investing in clean production technologies, we've also taken several steps to reaffirm our commitment to environmental protection:
• Installation of catch refrigeration systems on all our boats.
• Use of vacuum pumps for unloading the catch in order to prevent friction with mechanical components, thus reducing organic waste in the water to a minimum.
• Installation of pollution reduction equipments, such as Regainer Trommels and five Dissolver Air Flotation (DAF) system liquid waste treatment plants of the most advanced technology available, in compliance with Chilean regulations that make it compulsory to process industrial liquid waste before letting it into the sewage network.
• The Fishmeal plant is fitted with a steam drying system and the heat and vapours coming from the process are used as thermal energy sources for the new WHE Film Descendent technology evaporation plants. The remaining vapours are condensed in gas cleaners.
• Conversion of the boilers from oil and coal-fuelled to natural gas-fuelled.
• Permanent workers training in environmental protection measures.
• Forestation in the surroundings of the plants.
• Active presence in the activities and programmes for reducing pollution in the Talcahuano area.
• Investment in pollution reduction as well as constant evaluation of work practices, in order to get a clean production certification.
All this, together with a policy of regular investment in technologies and procedures for reducing liquid industrial waste and gas emissions proves that we are seriously committed to environmental protection.
