As part of a separate initiative, it has been recognised that large industrial sites such as Chevron Pembroke can act as bio-sanctuaries. A European Union funded programme, co-ordinated by the University of Ulster, is helping to develop management schemes to assist companies to conserve and where practicable, enhance biological diversity within their industrial sites. Because of its potential, Chevron Pembroke was selected as a pilot site in the programme.

Geographical Information

Pembrokeshire is a peninsula lying on the extreme south-west of Wales. The county is split in two by the estuary Milford Haven (the town of Milford Haven lies on its north shore). The Haven is a drowned river valley that provides an ideal sheltered deep water harbour, and is a key reason why the oil refineries were established in Pembrokeshire in the late 1950's / early 60's. The moderating effect of the ocean on its shores, and in particular the influence of the Gulf Stream, provide Pembrokeshire with a maritime climate, with mild wet winters and cool summers, and prevailing south and westerly winds.

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Industrial History

Seafaring has long been associated with the area. Admiral Nelson was one of the first to identify its potential as a harbour, although the area is littered with village names linking them as far back as Viking ancestry. The town of Pembroke Dock was an important naval base and construction yard in the mid-1800's, whilst Isambard Kingdom Brunel initially had his Trans Atlantic Ocean Terminus at Neyland. Deep sea fishing was also a major industry in the period up to the second world war. In more recent times, the focus has been on ferry services to Ireland, leisure sailing and of course, the oil industry. Regent (which later became Chevron) built the refinery in 1964 on the southern shore of Milford Haven.

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The Refinery Today

Operations are carried out 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The majority of the crude oil comes from the North Sea, but also from Africa and the Middle East. In one week, the refinery receives about a million barrels of crude oil (one barrel = almost 159 litres = 35 UK gallons).The refinery processes approximately 28.6 million litres (7.0 million gallons) of crude oil per day, and produces 13.6 million litres (3.5 million gallons) of petrol daily. Finished products leave the refinery by sea (70%), pipeline (27%) and road (3%). They are distributed to the UK market, Europe and occasionally places further afield such as North and Central America.

Chevron is a significant employer in the area, having approximately 480  staff, plus several hundred more contract staff. It contributes over £29 million into the local economy each year through salaries, local taxes and local labour.

Over the lifetime of the refinery there has been significant investment in new plant. Some of the major units built or upgraded in this time include:

• uprating of the crude unit
• construction of a catalytic cracker and associated plant
• construction of an improved catalytic reformer and a second hydrotreater

• construction of ultra-low sulphur gasoline unit

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Environmental Management

The refinery is regulated by an Authorisation issued by the Environment Agency. This details specific limits for air and water emissions, frequency and type of reporting, and any improvements that are required. The Environment Agency appoint a Site Inspector, who visits the site on a regular basis to assess environmental performance. The Authorisation (AF7894), and all correspondence associated with it, is available on public register. In addition, all emissions from the refinery are collated on a register, administered by the Environment Agency, which is available on the internet.  Click Here

There are several key units with in the refinery which have a significant environmental impact. The sulphur naturally present in the crude oil has to be converted or extracted from the fuels. This is achieved in the hydrotreating and merox units. The sulphur, in the form of hydrogen sulphide is then recovered as elemental sulphur in the sulphur recovery units. There are two "trains" which can recover sulphur, and they operate with efficiencies of 96+%.

The waste water treatment plant receives all process water produced from the refinery and treats it before discharge to the Haven. The installation of two dissolved air flotation tanks in 1995 has seen a reduction the average oil content of the final effluent reduce from 15 parts per million (ppm) in 1995 to 5ppm (and less) by 2000.

Dissolved air flotation tanks

Many of the upgrades in refinery capability are concerned with reducing emissions - both by improved fuels and better performance from operating plant. Since 1990, fuels improvements have included unleaded gasoline, ultra low sulphur diesel, and from 2001 on, ultra low sulphur gasoline. At the same time, refinery operating practices have seen the use of enhanced firing technology to improve heater efficiencies and reduce sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions.

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Natural Habitat

The area surrounding the refinery is rich in natural biodiversity, with the Haven forming part of the Pembrokeshire Islands Candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC). In addition, two Sites of Special Scientific Interest lie each side of the plant - Pwllcrochan Flats and Angle Bay. The refinery installation occupies approximately 550 acres of a 1300 acre property. Most of the 750 acre portion of land outside the refinery perimeter is made up of agricultural land which is let to local farmers, with the remainder comprising marshland and scrub, which provide excellent wildlife habitat. The site has areas of old woodland and unimproved grassland which are rare in west Wales. The grassland also provides a breeding habitat for the skylark. There are several important biodiversity features which have been identified by expert analysis:

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Man-made habitat

With a rich agricultural, industrial and military record, the site contains numerous historical buildings. These range from Iron Age forts through the remains of a fortified manor house late 19th century to Napoleonic fortifications and a Victorian schoolhouse.

There are two Iron Age forts which overlook the Haven from outside of the site perimeter fence.

• Eastington is a fortified farmhouse that is still occupied. On the east side of the site are the remnants of a 16^th century estate, Hentland. All that remains now are a stone barn and an arch. 

• Overlooking the Haven to the northwest is the Victorian fortification of Popton fort.

 All of these properties are listed buildings and are monitored by CADW, the Welsh Ancient Monuments office.

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Chevron Environmental Initiatives

Apart from the investment in process improvements, and the involvement in promoting biodiversity in the BAIS scheme, Chevron had undertaken a range of initiatives with in the community to promote and educate the public on environmental issues,

• The Chevron Natural History Club (TNHC), With sponsorship by the company, and manned on a voluntary basis by employees, have developed an oiled bird cleaning centre. The TNHC also carries out bird-ringing activities, puts out nesting boxes and hosts an international annual bird conference.

• SCAN: This is a schools initiative where primary school children use the internet to describe their area and the environmental issues affecting them, and compare with other schools from around the world. This was piloted in Pembrokeshire, with Chevron personnel helping to establish and maintain the internet systems.

• Cragrats: Is an environmental theatre group travelling around secondary schools. It uses music and sketches to deliver the message that the environment is important, and the actions individuals take can have an impact. Chevron helps sponsor this.

• School Involvement: Several school trips are hosted every year, both from local schools and from further afield. There are regular annual visits by sixth form students from the Field Studies Council, who also use areas within the site for study.

• Sixth form students from local schools are also sponsored in an engineering competition annually to design environmental projects. Recent projects have included design changes to the waste water treatment plant, a feasibility study into installing a reed bed for water effluent treatment and designing a biopile for the destruction of oily solids.

Information Leaflets

Chevron has sponsored the publication of leaflets explaining the issues of air pollution. A joint hand-out with the Natural History Museum on the use of lichens for measuring air quality has been widely commended. Another initiative saw the publication of a leaflet explaining the impact of air pollution, and the ways it can be minimised.

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