Pakistan is frequently experiencing severe weather events. The threats posed by climate change are increasing with every passing year, while changes in weather patterns could also deliver a devastating blow to the agriculture sector.
Pakistan holds 8th position in the Climate Risk Index. The government has taken numerous steps to address the environmental challenge but a lot more needs to be done to move the country towards a greener future. Companies operating in Pakistan can learn a lot from Cnergyico Pk Limited (formerly Byco Petroleum), which has been using creative ideas and innovative techniques for the last 27 years to tackle climate change.
Cnergyico is Pakistan’s biggest vertically integrated oil refiner that is also looking to expand and diversify its business. It owns and operates an oil refining complex in Hub, Balochistan that can process up to 156,000 barrels per day of crude oil. Besides this, it also runs a rapidly growing network of more than 400 petrol pumps and the country’s largest crude oil storage tanks. Innovation has always been at the forefront of Cnergyico’s operations, so much so that it has become a part of the organizational culture. The company is known for finding out-of-the-box solutions to fix complex problems.
For example, in order to avoid congestion at the government-owned oil importing terminals, it installed the country’s first and only Single Point Mooring. The SPM is a floating jetty located in the deep-sea that uses state-of-the-art technology to transfer crude oil from vessels to Cnergyico’s oil refining complex through pipelines. The installation of SPM also made Cnergyico the country’s sole and largest vertically integrated oil refining company.
Cnergyico closely monitors the environment around its SPM and oil refining complex (for example by regularly conducting sub-sea surveys to evaluate the marine life) to ensure its operations do not have an adverse effect. Also, it takes measures to enhance the natural habitat and serve the local communities.
Due to Cnergyico’s diligent efforts as well as careful planning, the sub-sea environment around the SPM and the company’s pipeline has given birth to a thriving coral reef. The coral reef near Cnergyico’s SPM and its offshore pipeline is a rare marine habitat in Pakistan that is home to some of the most diverse species of fish. By enhancing the marine ecosystem, Cnergyico is playing its part in improving the health of the Arabian Sea.
However, Cnergyico’s most ambitious plan to combat climate change has been its massive and award-winning afforestation campaign. The company was the first major corporation in Pakistan to use the Miyawaki Method of afforestation to plant thousands of trees around its oil refining complex in Hub, Balochistan and Karachi. It has also sponsored the development of an urban forest in Clifton, Karachi.
Cnergyico seeks to reverse the effects of climate change by making Pakistan greener. The company has achieved phenomenal success over the last few years and anyone can easily observe how quickly the company has been able to grow trees in a span of just a few years by visiting its urban forest in Karachi.
Cnergyico’s operations are geared towards not just making profits but also delivering on United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The afforestation activities are aligned with SDG number 13 (climate action). Cnergyico’s efforts to preserve marine life allow it to contribute towards SDG number 14 (life below water).
Cnergyico also participates in other social projects by collaborating with renowned local and international social welfare organizations. For example, the company worked closely with UNDP to develop a Water Recycling Plant at its retail outlet in Quetta to conserve this precious natural resource. Furthermore, Cnergyico has deployed solar-powered RO plants for the local communities located near its oil refining complex. This way, the company helps provide clean drinking water to thousands of individuals in Balochistan. This helps the company in contributing towards another key SDG – goal number 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).
Moreover, Cnergyico firmly believes that women’s empowerment is essential to achieving sustainable socio-economic growth. In this regard, by collaborating with TAF Foundation, Cnergyico has supported skill development programmes for hundreds of women. This project is in line with SDG number 5 (Gender Equality).
The corporations must strive to strike a balance between the three P’s - Profits, People and Planet. Cnergyico has already shown how this can be achieved – others should also step up and rise to the occasion. It is only through collective action that we can effectively fight against climate change.
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