Support for the “Classrooms for the 21st Century” project: A Smart TV Monitor donated to Poljice Primary School

At the request of the Management of the primary school “Poljice”, today we made another donation on behalf of our company to all the students of the school. This is a smart TV monitor by which we decided to support their project “Classrooms for the 21st Century” with the aim of improving the educational process according to the needs of modern education.

We believe our donation will contribute to more effective learning and creative interactions between teachers and students about which we were convinced during the visit. On this occasion we wish them all the best in their future endeavours.  

Photo/Recognition for Outstanding Service and Contribution to Work: These are GIKIL’s workers of the year

In accordance with the adopted remuneration policy, today we presented awards and letters of appreciation to the most outstanding employees of GIKIL. Fourteen of them have won the coveted title of 2022 Employee of the Year.

As pointed out by the company’s Managing Director, Dževad Kasumović, the title awarded is a prize for exceptional effort, achievement and outstanding commitment in the execution of the tasks.

“Your work has been recognized and I would like to extend my congratulations and thank you for everything you have done for us. You have been selected by your departments which is the best reflection that your superiors and colleagues really appreciate you. “I hope that you will continue to be a role model for everyone. Through this act, I encourage everyone else to do their best in their work. It is up to us to create an ambience of recognition and appreciation”, he added.

For the smiles of 350 children: GIKIL’s New Year’s party brought together all generations

Our Company held a traditional December celebration in the Great Hall of the Lukavac Cultural Centre, during which New Year’s packages were distributed to the workers’ children.

This year, we broke our own record and distributed abundant packages to over 350 children.

Little ones were entertained by professional actors and animators and the indispensable Santa Claus.

Ending 2022 with great achievements and excellent business results, we plan and hope that the coming year will bring even more possibilities and valuable business opportunities.

In addition to stable production, as a socially responsible company that puts each employee and the community first, we wish everyone good health, personal and professional success, and good cooperation in 2023.

GIKIL wishes you a Happy New Year! 

Pupils and students, as well as children of workers, are included in the scholarship programme

Rijad Kovačević, a student of the Faculty of Technology at the University of Tuzla, Department of Chemical Engineering, is a new scholarship holder of our company.

“The scholarship program is carried out in accordance with the adopted Scholarship Policy as a further indication of the company’s clear direction to openly support pupils and students of both technical orientations and deficient occupations of importance for the Society, but also gifted pupils and students, and pupils and students of weaker financial status,” Irina Dugonjić, Director of Human Resources and Administration at GIKIL, said on this occasion.

The aim of the scholarship program is to foster the synergy between science and industry, bring future staff closer to practice, and provide practical solutions to challenging issues that arise through practice.

Under this policy, one of the additional forms of support to elementary, middle school, high school and college students is to provide monthly travel passes for employees’ children. Approximately 130 children are currently included in the program. 

A gift to the local community: The construction of the sports ground in Hrvati has been completed

Association of Citizens “1st May, Hrvati” from Lukavac successfully completed the project called “Heart on the field” in this local community. We are referring to the construction of a basketball playground. This the first time that the children of the district school, as well as the settlement of the local community Hrvati, got an adequate space to practice sports.

Along with the Tuzla Community Foundation, the construction of the playground was actively supported not only by our company, but also by other legal entities and residents of the town of Lukavac. The playground is a gift to the people and the local community, with the plan to continue the activities to maintain and add to the sports facilities, for a better future and quality of everyday life for the people and our children.

New important investment

The professional firefighting force operating in GIKIL’s Health and Safety department have recently been strengthened with the purchase of a new firefighting vehicle that meets the highest global standards in terms of equipment and technical competence.

This is a domestically produced vehicle used in the most developed EU countries that will greatly facilitate the work of firefighters and raise the quality level of protection, safety and intervention, making GIKIL’s manufacturing a safer workplace.

“We can proudly point out that GIKIL is one of the few companies in the region with a fire brigade like ours, private ambulance, rescue unit and a 24/7 switchboard that can quickly respond to potential hazards within minutes. Protecting our workers and production facilities are our number one priority, which is why we continually invest in safety and health”.

A new fire vehicle is an extremely valuable investment and its importance is recognized by the Management, so along with all other investments in this department, both workers and citizens of Lukavac are protected. Our main goal of feeling safe is achieved,” said Dženan Aljukić, Head of the Health and Safety Department.

GIKIL’s corporate fire brigade has a total of 30 firefighters and currently has 3 fire trucks, and the renovation of the fire station is underway.

Another Scientific Research Project Presented in Partnership with the Faculty of Technology

Ph.D. Milnesa Zohorovic, assistant professor at the Faculty of Technology of the University of Tuzla, today presented atto GIKIL the results of a scientific research paper entitled “Treatment of Sludge from GIKIL Ammonia-Phenol Wastewater Treatment Plant”.

The purpose of this project is to analyze the input and output parameters of the ammonia-phenol sewage treatment plant to determine the efficiency of the treatment, analyze the waste sludge and its sterilization, and the optimal parameters at which the sludge turn into inert waste.

The conclusions drawn will be valuable input for further work, and additional analyzes will be carried out in collaboration between the Faculty of Technology and GIKIL, which has proven its worth both in terms of research. science and practical applications. .

The project presentation brought together laboratory assistants and students from the Faculty of Technology, as well as plant managers and engineers from GIKIL, as well as staff from the environmental field.

Our Gift to the City: A New Amusement and Recreation Park Has Been Opened in Lukavac

In the presence of a large number of children and their parents, as well as other citizens, a new amusement and recreation park was opened in Lukavac with a suitable festival program. The park, in cooperation with the mayor and the city management of Lukavac, was introduced to the public by GIKIL, a company that recognizes daily successes, both organizationally and financially and is also socially responsible and willing to invest substantial funds for the welfare of the community.

 

 “As a company with a rich production history in the city and as one of the oldest and largest companies in this area, we have both the need and the obligation to create better living conditions in Lukavac together with all of you.

“Coke Plant Lukavac has a whole new face of business today, just like the new face of our city, and hopefully this amusement park will serve as a landmark and witness to the new, prettier, happier place we all want to live in.” said Almin Suljić, Executive Director of Production and Technical Affairs and a member of the Management of GIKIL.

Coke Plant Lukavac with the new Management on the path of big changes

Optimizing Plants and Facilities with Environmental Protection is the Main Focus of Work

One of the main activities that we quickly carried out at Global Ispat Koksna Industrija d.o.o. Lukavac in the past time is the implementation of projects to prevent and reduce the emission of harmful substances into the water, as well as to protect the water source in general. Activities are carried out according to a dynamic plan, under the acquired water permits and the integrated environmental permits of which they are an integral part.

According to the Manager for Environment Protection, Emra Halilović, for the collection of technological, precipitation-polluted, and sanitary-faecal wastewater, as well as for their purification and treatment, all technical-investment paperwork has been completed at the  main implementation projects level. A separate sewage system is also specified in the project documentation.

 “At the coke storage and coal preparation warehouse, gravity filtration facilities have been built. All are working and delivering the required results. The most important aspect is that the cleaned sediment is returned to the landfill and used as a raw material in the production process. In fact, the suspended solids in the primary sediment are particles of coal and coke. As a result, there is no waste or overflow into other streams and regulatory limit values ​​are met,” pointed out Halilović.

The physicochemical and biological wastewater treatment optimization project is the only facility of its kind in the region and one of the largest and most important projects underway. The purpose is to ensure the limit values ​​specified in the Ordinance on conditions for discharge into the environment and public sewers.

 “Based on input parameters, performed analyses and required output parameters of purified water, the optimal solution is predicted to obtain pure water from technical wastewater after undergoing all necessary processing steps. A sludge storage tank and a sludge dewatering device will also be installed.” clarifies Halilović

At the same time, a project was completed to collect tar condensate from the Coke plant gas pipeline that will be transferred to the tar pumping station and then to the existing physicochemical and biological treatment at the Biology plant. Talking about the importance of the project, Executive Director for production clarifies that the same was done not only at the Power plant, but also on the gas pipelines of defrosting hall, separation and biology, while grease and oil separators were installed at the Benzene plant and at the gas holder at the Coke plant which also provides the required results.

 

“Operations have also started to implement, collect, treat and discharge industrial wastewater from the Power plant. The necessary pipes and inspection shafts were procured. Since these works are also widely implemented on the ground, the effect will soon be visible”, he adds.

At the Filter Station, the quartz sand was replaced in the sand filters and the corrosion protection was completed.

“At the same time, the preliminary and main project to collect, treat and discharge industrial wastewater from the filter station was completed. This is one of our biggest and most important projects, along with the project for water licensing project. The works have already started and we will see immediate effects as this will prevent suspended solids from entering the Jala River”, emphasizes Suljić.

Measures to Prevent and Reduce Harmful Emissions into the Air

With regard to air protection and atmospheric emissions, in recent times maximum attention has been paid to technological improvements in the production of raw coke gas and coking ovens.

In addition to improving technical accuracy when selecting coal blends, it is very important to have regular and unscheduled crusher overhauls for precise grinding of the blend, coke ports and ducts, as well as firewall replacement. In addition, an overhaul of the charging machines was carried out for the proper filling of the coking ovens, as well as a general overhaul of the coke gas suction system.

Repairs to the damage to the coke oven walls of the V-Coke Battery are underway and according to the Managing Director, Dževad Kasumović, the Management has decided to replace the battery’s complete platform.

„Wall renovation includes coke oven ceramic welding. Apart from the fact that it is a very complex and demanding job done at very high temperatures, the refurbishment is progressing well and about 50% of the work is already completed. All chambers, or ovens, will be renovated in this way before the end of the year. In addition, besides replacing the entire platform, it not only extends the active operation of the battery and makes better use of the coke extraction process, but above all contributes significantly to reducing harmful emissions which is the most important goal“, explains Kasumović.

Additional coke battery production and environmental improvements will be achieved early next year when two new machines will be installed.

„It is a smokeless coal charging machine and a coke receiving machine that were not working before. With new machines there will be no more waste or emissions. They have been ordered and are currently in production and are scheduled for commissioning by February 2023. All of these aim not only to improve production and technical processes, but also to reduce uncontrolled emissions into the atmosphere“, concludes Kasumović.

 

Significant reductions in air pollutant emissions have also been achieved by terminating activities at the Power plant. A completely new gas pipeline was put into operation to supply gas to the boilers. Smoke tubes, burner casings, combustion chamber, sieve tubes were replaced, walls around burners were repaired, outside air fans and walls were repaired, and boiler desludging was carried out. A new water heater, economizer and air heater were installed in the chimney to improve combustion in the boiler and reduce emissions.

„The PLC control system was also replaced, achieving improved regulation, air heating, the possibility of adding more air to the burner and a better gas-air mixture, better combustion formation which reduces emissions into the air“, emphasizes Almin Suljić, Executive Director for Production.

„There are currently no emissions or pollution from the Fertilizer plant, specifically since October 2021, when the Management decided to temporarily suspend the operation of the Fertilizer plant“, confirms the Managing Director, Dževad Kasumović.

„The decision was made solely due to the cessation of production caused by long-term economic and financial consequences and realized losses. All labour force is retained and assigned to other plants and departments“, says Kasumović.

On the other hand, at the maleic anhydride plant, the catalyst has been replaced and the compressor has been overhauled, and new investments are underway.

„Replacing the catalytic converter significantly reduced the concentration of carbon monoxide in the exhaust. Here, the project to reduce the concentration of xylene in the exhaust gas is expected to be implemented by the end of the year. Another major investment underway at this plant is the purchase a new reactor that should further reduce harmful emissions into the air. At the same time, we are working on improving the technological process related to wastewater treatment technology at AMK plant“, emphasizes Kasumović.

Special care should be taken to avoid ground emissions and harmful effects on the ground. Following the success of the land remediation project, the potential for biological restoration of areas devastated by industrial waste was explored with the help of the Cantonal Ministry of Spatial Planning and Environmental Protection and other participants. The project was carried out with the support of the Federal Ministry of Education and Science, after which more than 500 saplings of silver spruce, red maple, white and black pine, Paulownia elongata and other flowers were planted within the entire GIKIL complex.

Minimizing Waste Production and Waste Management

The treatment and use of waste is carried out in accordance with the Law on Waste Management and the Waste Management Plan. Waste monitoring has been established, the place of generation has been identified, and a register of waste by type, quantity, method of treatment and transportation is kept correctly. In addition, the construction project and equipment for the hazardous waste and other waste storage plant are implemented to ensure storage conditions, in accordance with the law.

“Another novelty is that the entire GIKIL complex collects and sorts five types of packaging, wood, scrap paper and cardboard, in cooperation with the local community, namely Lukavac schools and citizens’ associations to which all these are donated. All of this implies that the company is in the midst of major transitions and changes and that we want to show the best of our social responsibility, all with the aim of protecting the environment“, concludes Halilović.

The Scientific Research Project of Edisa Papraćanin was presented

Ph.D. Edisa Paparačanin, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Technology, University of Tuzla, together with her colleagues, presented today at GIKIL, “Examination of fumaric acid crystallization potential and wastewater from the industrial distillation tower washing process of the AMK plant”.

In addition to the results representing valuable inputs and parameters whose application will continue to be tested in practice, the project has also identified recommendations for possible technological solutions that will also be analysed and tested further.

This is another scientific research study carried out under the cooperation agreement between the Faculty of Technology and GIKIL. The intensive cooperation will continue, with the aim of finding the best technical and productive solutions as well as GIKIL’s main goal of protecting the environment.

The presentation of the project was also attended by the chairman of the GIKIL Supervisory Board, ED production with assistants, Director of AMK plant, employees from the Environment department, Deputy Dean for Scientific Research of the Faculty of Technology and the students.