What is sustainable development- BUILT SUSTAIBLE ENVIRONMENT

What is sustainable development

"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

The concept of sustainable development can be interpreted in many different ways, but at its core is an approach to development that looks to balance different, and often competing, needs against an awareness of the environmental, social and economic limitations we face as a society.

All too often, development is driven by one particular need, without fully considering the wider or future impacts. We are already seeing the damage this kind of approach can cause, from large-scale financial crises caused by irresponsible banking, to changes in global climate resulting from our dependence on fossil fuel-based energy sources. The longer we pursue unsustainable development, the more frequent and severe its consequences are likely to become, which is why we need to take action now.  

So is it all just about the environment?

Living within our environmental limits is one of the central principles of sustainable development. One implication of not doing so is climate change.
But the focus of sustainable development is far broader than just the environment. It's also about ensuring a strong, healthy and just society. This means meeting the diverse needs of all people in existing and future communities, promoting personal well being, social cohesion and inclusion, and creating equal opportunity.

If sustainable development focuses on the future, does that mean we lose out now?

Not necessarily. Sustainable development is about finding better ways of doing things, both for the future and the present. We might need to change the way we work and live now, but this doesn't mean our quality of life will be reduced.
A sustainable development approach can bring many benefits in the short to medium term, for example:
Savings - As a result of SDC scrutiny, government has saved over £60m by improving efficiency across its estate.
Health & Transport - Instead of driving, switching to walking or cycling for short journeys will save you money, improve your health and is often just as quick and convenient.

How does it affect me?

The way we approach development affects everyone. The impacts of our decisions as a society have very real consequences for people's lives. Poor planning of communities, for example, reduces the quality of life for the people who live in them. (Relying on imports rather than growing food locally puts the UK at risk of food shortages.)
Sustainable development provides an approach to making better decisions on the issues that affect all of our lives. By incorporating health plans into the planning of new communities, for instance, we can ensure that residents have easy access to healthcare and leisure facilities. (By encouraging more sustainable food supply chains, we can ensure the UK has enough food for the long-term future.)

How do we make it happen?

We all have a part to play. Small actions, taken collectively, can add up to real change. However, to achieve sustainability in the UK, we believe the Government needs to take the lead. The SDC's job is to help make this happen, and we do it through a mixture of scrutiny, advice and building organisational capacity for sustainable development.

GMP Audit Check List- Filling and Packaging

GMP Audit Check List- Filling and Packaging

1.  Do the packaging operations proceed following the instructions and using the specified materials described in the Master Packaging Procedure?2.   Are the details of the operation recorded on the Batch Packaging Record?3.   Is only one product batch and packaging size on a line at any given time?4.   Are all deliveries of bulk product and packaging components checked and verified for their correctness against the Master Packaging Procedure of other specific order?

5.   Is the first precoded packaging compound checked on the correctness of the printed codes?6.   Are components allocated for pre-coding stored in sealed containers within an appropriate area for proper security and segregation?7.   Does pre-coding of components take place in an area isolated form other packaging operations?8.   Are all pre-coded components checked against the correctness before transfer to packaging?9.   Are there procedures describinga.      receipt and identification of bulk ,packaging components?b.      proper control to assure the correct, printed and unprinted packaging component used?c.      the required in-process control?d.      the reconciliation of bulk products and printed packaging materials? final package examination?Line clearance10.               Before a packaging operation starts, are checks carried out to ensure that work area and equipment are clean and free forma.      any products?b.      product residues? Orc.      documents not required for that operation?11.  Is an inspection conducted of each line prior to packaging to ensurea.      removal of all previous drug product and labeling materials?b.      general cleanliness of the line and the immediate area?c.      cleanliness of the equipment to be used? Employed12.  Is there inspection verified by Quality Control?In-process control13. Are there procedures for in-process control describing,a.      the point of sampling?b.      the frequency of sampling?c.      number of samples to be taken?d.      specification to be checked?e.      the limit of acceptability for each specification?14. Does the in-process control include;a.      checking of the product till or count at the start of the packaging run?b.      checking of the finished products through-out the run at regular intervals for their full compliance with specifications?c.      checking of batch identity through-out the packaging operation?15. Are the results of in-process tests and inspectiona.      recorded?b.      included in the Batch Packaging Record?Operating practices16. Is there adequate separation of packaging lines to prevent any mix-up?17. Is each packaging line identified with product name, pack, size and batch number?18. Are storage containers for a bulk product, partly packed product or sub-batch labeled and marked with;a.      product identity?  b quantity? C batch number?  d status?19. Are the empty containers to be filled supplied to packaging line or station in a clean condition?20. Are printed packaging materials found during clean-upa.      turned over to the supervisor in the packaging area?b.      placed in special designated containers (for reconciliation and destruction at the end of packaging run)?21. Are finished or semi-finished packages observed off the packaginga.      given to the supervisor of the packaging?b.      never returned directly to the packaging line?c.      scrapped and the amount recorded, if the package cannot be identified for the same batch or lot number?22. Are products filled into their final containers and awaiting labeling and final packaging segregated and marked with the;a.      product identification?b.      batch number?c.      status?23. Are measures taken to control the spread of dust during packaging especially of dry products by;a.      using dust collecting device?b.      discouraging use of compressed air?24. Is a segregated area provided for filling and packaging of potent low dose or toxic products or sensitizing agents?25. Is use of brushes discouraged?26. Is bringing personal medicament into the packaging area prohibited?27. Is placing of packaging components or products in the pocket of the personnel prohibited?28. Are supplies like lubricants, adhesive, inks, cleaning fluids etc. kept ina.      a container different form the use for drug containers?b.      clearly labeled as to their contents?Completion of the packaging operation29. Is the last production package carefully checked to confirm with specification on completion of the packaging operation?30. Is only finished products form a single packaging operation placed in a pallet?31. Is the quantity of the partly filled carton indicated accordingly?32. Is inspection performed on each line after the packaging operations, to ensure thata.      all excess packaging componentsb.      remaining bulk product, orc.      rejected packaging components33. are removed, and after reconciliation closely supervised to ensure that only save and properly identified packaging components and bulk products are permitted to be returned to the warehouse?34. Are all excess or rejected coded packaging materialsa.      counted?     b destroyed under control of the supervisor?35. Are quantities destroyed recorded on the Batch Packaging Record?36. Is the net used packaging components and bulk products calculated and recorded by the supervisor?37. Is any significant unexplainable yield discrepancy or failure to comply with specification thoroughly investigated?38. Is the investigation extended to other batches or other products which might also be affected?39. Are finished products quarantined until final release by Quality Control?40. Is the removal of excess packaging component and bulk products after reconciliation closely supervised?

GMP Audit Check List- Equipment

GMP Audit Check List- Equipment

Is brief description of major production and quality control lab. Equipment indicating construction, validation and suitability of other materials (polypropylene, chrome plated brass, PVC, non-reactive plastic materials) provided?
Are the equipment of appropriate design, construction and adequate size suitably located?
Are the equipment surfaces coming into contact with any raw material, intermediate bulk or finished product made of inert materials (e.g. stainless steel)
Are the equipment properly maintained and easily cleaned?
Are there procedures for cleaning and maintenance available? ( Indicate responsibility, contractual details, maintenance routines which could affect product quality)
Are all equipment for cleaning and maintenance recorded? ( Indicate type, frequency, details of reports/modification, use of report)
Are all equipment properly grounded where required?
Is there any program for calibration of measuring equipment?
Is the result of the calibration documented?
Are all open mechanical belts, pulley, etc equipped with safety guards?
Are major equipment clearly marked with identifying numbers?
Are qualification, validation and calibration programs available for equipment used for production, quality control heating ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), water system, steam, compressed air, gasses etc.?( indicate policy/protocols for qualification and validation, revalidation, calibration and their recording)

GMP Audit Check List- Sanitation and Hygiene

GMP Audit Check List- Sanitation and Hygiene

Is high level of sanitation and hygiene implemented in every aspect of manufacturing of  product?
Are protective measures taken to avoid direct contact of operators and materials (raw materials and drug products) and assuring protection of product from contamination as well as the safety of personnel?
Is there any regulation for personnel entering the building and facility designated as limited access area?
Are smoking, eating, drinking, chewing or keeping plant, food, drink, smoking material and personal medicines restricted to specific areas and not permitted in production, laboratory, storage areas and other area where they might adversely influence product quality?
Are employee's washing and toilet facilities adequate and in sufficient quantity?
Are there any procedure of qualification and validation of sanitation and hygiene available?
Is there a program for control of pest, rodents, insects or birds?
Is the program appropriately designed so that the rodenticides, insecticides, fumigating agents and sanitizing material do not contaminate equipment, raw materials, packaging materials, in-process materials or finished products?
Are cleaning agents changed from time to time?
Are cleaning method monitored routinely by chemical and or microbiological method?
What are the cleaning methods/frequency for the water supply system, air handling system and dust extraction system?

GMP Audit Check List- water supply system

GMP Audit Check List- water supply system

To ensure the reliable production of water of the required quality are water treatment plants -
A. designed and constructed?    B. maintained? operated?.
Are water sources, water treatment equipment and treated water checked for contamination and maintained regularly for
A. chemical?  B.  Microbial?
Does the monitoring system cover
a.     sample size?
b.    location where samples are taken form?
c.     frequency of sampling?
d.   test and specifications including chemical, microbiological and Pyrogen tests?
Are records of the result of the monitoring and any of remedial action maintained?
Is the water produced, stored and distributed in such a way to discourage microbial growth?
Are pressure relief outlets of water storage protected by hydrophobic microbial air filters?
Method of water for  production;
           a. by distillation ? b. by other means(mention the method)? ... ...

Is purified /Distilled water  stored
a.     in clean, non-reactive, non-absorptive, non-additive containers?
b.   protected from contamination?
If it is not recirculated, is it discarded after 24 hours?
Is there a sampling procedure covering
a.     location where samples taken?
b.    sample size?
c.     frequency of sampling?
d.   test and specification including chemical and microbiological and perogen tests?

GMP Audit Check List- Personnel and Premises

GMP Audit Check List- Personnel and Premises

PERSONNEL

Is up-dated organization chart showing arrangement for quality assurance including production and quality control available?
is up dated technical staff list is available with following information - Name, qualification and years of relevant experience of responsible pharmacists, Chemist in Production, Quality Assurance & Quality Control?
Are production and Quality Assurance/ Quality control functions independent of each other?

Are all unit areas adequately staffed?

Is there proper supervision in every unit?
Is hiring of an employee proceeded by a medical examination?
Is this examination done periodically ?
who is responsible for reporting/checking health of  employee?
Is an employee whose states of health is doubtful immediately removed from the work site until she/he has recovered?
Is there system of reporting back after illness?
Is medical assistance available during the normal working hours?
Are there suitable washing, changing and rest areas?
Is the clothing suitable for the activity undertaken? Briefly describe the clothing.
Are there clear instructions on how protective clothing should be used and when it should be changed?

Is in-house or external laundry used?

Have all personnel received GMP training? A.    Induction B.   Continuous

Is training manual/syllabus of GMP available and enclosed?

Do all personnel receive up-dated GMP training? How often?………
Is record of training details (induction/continuous) provided to each staff in-house available and enclosed?




Is efficacy of training assessed by questionnaire?
PREMISES


Are there any sources of pollution (industrial or other) in the neighborhood of the building?

Is well-labeled plant lay-out of suitable size, design and construction for each areas of production and control available/enclosed?

Is the plant so constructed and maintained to protect against. a)     Weather, flood, ground seepage? b)    Access and harboring of vermin, rodents, birds, insects and other animals?

Is there an adequate working space for a)     Orderly and logical placement of equipment and materials? b)    Efficient flow of work? c)   Effective communication?

Are buildings and facilities properly constructed to facilitate smooth operation and adequate cleaning?

Are room arrangements adequate, to prevent mix-up and/or cross-contamination of products?

Are lighting and ventilation adequately designed and installed?

Is schematic drawings/data on design criteria (specification of the air supply, temperature, humidity, pressure differential and air change rate, re-circulation percentage), filter design/efficiency, limits for changing filters, validation, re-validation frequency provided?
Are toilets: a)     not open directly to production areas? b)    well ventilated?

Are sewage, trash and other effluent disposal adequate?

Are floors, walls and ceilings constructed of materials which will facilitate easy cleaning and if necessary Disinfections?
Are products of other highly toxic/hazardous products, cephalosporins, steroids/hermones, cytotoxics well segregated?

Is schematic description of water system including sanitation provided? ( Indicate city supply, capacity, vessel materials/pipework, filters specification, store/circulating temperature, specification of water produced, sampling points, frequency testing, procedure and frequency of sanitation)

Are there preventative maintenance and servicing programme/procedure/reporting available? ( Indicate the frequency of services /checks, details of services/repairs/modification, critical maintenance that could affect product quality, access/use of maintenance records)

New Employee Safety Orientation: What Your Training Should Include

To train new employees in safety, your presentation should lay out their role in creating a safe workplace, as well as safety steps to take.

 

How likely is it that new hires will be injured on the job, as compared to experienced workers?
a) twice as likely
b) four times as likely
c) five times as likely
d) no more likely
If you answered c), you’re correct. That startling statistic was, in fact.
 Lay out the objectives. Your presentation should make the point that every worker can make (and is expected to make) an important contribution to organizational safety by identifying, and fixing or reporting hazards and near-misses, and by responding appropriately to emergencies and evacuations.
--Note specific learning.  learning the basics of several different areas of safety.
--Warn against horseplay. Those new to the job may be tempted to “fool around” with equipment they’ve never used before. Such antics can be deadly.
--Explain the worker’s role in security. Newcomers may take a narrow view of safety as primarily accident prevention, but they need to understand that keeping unauthorized persons out of the workplace is also a safety measure—and that it’s done through vigilance and careful handling of identification systems such as badges and codes.
--List safety information sources. It’s vital that workers know where to find the knowledge they need to be safe, including the location of safety bulletin boards, and the names of safety supervisors or members of the facility’s safety committee.
--Give detailed safety information. offers specific slides, in easily digested bullet format, on (1) housekeeping, (2) fire hazards and response (including extinguisher use and technique,) (3) ergonomic cautions, (4) safe lifting and materials handling, (5) PPE types and use, (6) electrical hazards and protective measures, and (7) hazardous chemicals.
New Employee Safety Orientation includes:

• An audio presentation
  It's all done for you and ready to deliver.
• A fully prepared PowerPoint presentation
  Fully researched and expertly designed safety meetings on this key OSHA topic.
• Reproducible handouts
  Print and photocopy the handouts.
• Interactive exercises
  Involving exercises increases comprehension.
• Quizzes
  Test your employees' knowledge.
• Completion certificate
  Document who completed training.

Breaking the Chain of Repeat Accidents=Making Zero Accidents Our Goal

• Make safety a top priority. Talk about safety, conduct safety audits, and encourage suggestions from employees for improving safety.
• Set a goal to eliminate repeat accidents. Make sure all of your employees—not just those involved in an accident—understand the causes of prior accidents and the steps they need to take to avoid a repeat.
• Train as if their lives depended on it—because they do! Your employees' safety on the job depends on their skills, knowledge, awareness, and judgment. Training strengthens and develops all these safety essentials.
• Reinforce safe behavior. Get out there among your employees every day and praise those who are working safely. Talk to those who are taking risks and redirect them into following safe procedures. Consider retraining those whose performance indicates a lack of requisite safety skills or knowledge.
• Don't use discipline without also offering help. You may need to resort to discipline when coaching and counseling fail to correct unsafe behavior. But don't discipline without also providing support and feedback about safe performance.
• Emphasize hazard detection and reporting. Just because something was OK yesterday doesn't mean it hasn't become a hazard today. Keep alert and make sure your employees keep their eyes open, too.
• Investigate every incident. Whether it was a near miss or an accident that caused injuries and damage, investigate until you find the cause and correct it.
• A Close Look at Close Calls
• Accidents Don’t “Just Happen”
• Be a Safety Booster
• Develop a Healthy Safety Attitude
• Don’t Take Anything for Granted
• Employee Safety Responsibilities
• Excuses, Excuses
• Forget About Luck
• Golden Rule for Safety
• Hurry-Up Can Hurt
• Instilling Safety Awareness
• It Can’t Happen to You?
• Looking Back, Thinking Ahead
• Make Hazard Recognition Second Nature
• Making Zero Accidents Our Goal
• Our Safety Mission Needs Your Ideas
• Right Habit, Safe Habit
• Setting a Good Example
• Start and Finish Safely
• Stay on Guard
• Take Safety Personally
• Think Safety
• Unsafe Shortcuts
• Who's Responsible for Safety
• And many more.
•  

Who's Pays When a Rule-Breaker Gets Hurt?

Who's Pays When a Rule-Breaker Gets Hurt?

This story is based on a real court case. The names have been changed, of course, and the dialogue is imagined, what might have been said. The issues and the outcome, however, are all too real. Many workers side-step safety rules every day—maybe some of them are your employees.
Joe was a wrapper at ABC Furniture. His job duties included uncrating, unwrapping, repairing, and rewrapping furniture. But on one particular Saturday, Joe worked his regular job in the morning, then worked overtime in the afternoon an evening, helping his supervisor Mario build a small enclosed office within the warehouse.
Most of the sheetrock for the project was located close to where they were working, but an additional supply was located a good distance away. By late afternoon, all the nearby sheetrock was used up. So Mario sent Joe to get some more.
Although Joe wasn't trained or certified to operate a forklift, Mario told him to use one, since that was the quickest way to move the heavy material.

---

The Accident
Joe managed to load the forklift and was heading back to the construction area when disaster struck. Because he was unfamiliar with the controls and safe operating rules, the heavily loaded forks were riding too high and the forklift tipped over. Joe's leg was crushed and had to be amputated.
When he applied for workers' compensation benefits, ABC fought the claim, arguing that Joe wasn't authorized to operate a forklift, and was therefore violating safety rules. This meant he was doing something "outside the scope of his employment" when he was injured, which made him ineligible to collect.
What the Court Said
The Superior Court of New Jersey, however, disagreed with the employer's argument, and ruled that the employee could collect benefits—even though he wasn't performing his usual job and even though he violated company safety rules.
What's the Point? Even though this employee broke the rules and did a foolish thing, the responsibility for the accident still rested with the employer. Apparently, there wasn't a strong enough commitment to safety policy on the part of employees and supervisors to prevent an accident like this one.
The employee did the wrong thing. No doubt. But don't forget that it was his supervisor who told him to use the forklift. What was this supervisor thinking! What kind of safety commitment did this supervisor have to do such a stupid thing as encourage an employee to break a safety rule?
In most cases, of course, it's employees who take the initiative when it comes to side-stepping rules and maybe the supervisor turns a blind eye. There are lots of equipment and forklift accident cases where this was the scenario. Usually, the employees are young risk takers.
But no matter how the events leading up to an accident play out, if your employees don't know and follow the rules, and if your supervisors don't enforce them, then when the accident happens, it's the organization that's going to end up taking a bottom line hit in terms of workers' comp benefits, lost productivity, and all the unpleasant things that follow in the wake of a workplace accident, especially one with a serious injury.

Wednesday,
by Chris Kilbourne

5 Essential Steps for Successful JHA

5 Essential Steps for Successful JHA

Monday, November 19, 2012 3:00 AM
by Chris KilbourneStep 1. Watch the work being done. Evaluate all aspects of the job task, even those performed infrequently. Observe more than one employee. Observe more than one shift. Take enough time to fully understand what the worker is actually doing.
Step 2: Break the job down into parts. Most tasks involve a sequence of discrete steps. But don't go overboard. If you break a job down into too many minute parts, the JHA will be too complex and hard to work with. Simplify. Rule of thumb: limit the number of components to 10 or less.
Step 3: Describe hazards in each step. Once the components have been identified, then the hazards for each must be identified and described. Consider physical hazards, environmental conditions, ergonomic hazards, etc.
It's true that all of these are valid steps in the process of changing a light bulb. But you can easily simplify and combine steps to make the JHA more manageable. For example:

• Get ladder and new light bulb.
• Set up ladder properly under light fixture.
• Climb and descend the ladder safely.
• Change bulb.
• Put equipment, tools, and supplies away.

Of course, too little detail may omit hazards. Here is an example of the light bulb JHA that has too little detail:

• Get a ladder.
• Change bulb.
• Put ladder away and throw out old light bulb.

22 Questions to Ask about JHA -JOB HAZARD ANALYISIS Tasks

The following list of questions is intended to help focus efforts on identifying and controlling hazards when conducting JHA.
Although the list is comprehensive, it is not complete. You will need to think carefully about the tasks and sub-tasks of each job you analyze and the particular hazards they present. Then you can add or delete to develop suitable lists for jobs you analyze.

• Does the layout of the location or process create hazards?
• Is there adequate access and egress to and from the work area?
• Are workers exposed to temperature extremes?
• Is the lighting adequate?
• Is the work done outdoors and can the weather create a hazard?
• Does the task require entering a confined space?
• Is the work done at heights (from a ladder, roof top, etc.)?
• Do the tools or equipment create a hazard?
• Is there excessive noise or vibration?
• Can any part of the worker's body or clothing be caught in the equipment?
• Is the tool or equipment appropriate for the task (strength, size, power, etc.)?
• Are chemicals used?
• Does the worker come into direct contact with the chemicals?
• Are the chemicals released into the air (gas, mists, vapors, etc.)?
• Are workers exposed to electrical hazards?
• Are there excavations, holes, or floor openings in the work area?
• Are the workers exposed to stored energy hazards such as; line pressure, electricity, steam, or falling objects?
• Does the process start and stop automatically?
• Are robotics used in the process?
• Can human factor issues (training, fitness, fatigue, etc.) create a hazard?
• Is there risk of injury from material handling such as lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling?
• Is there risk of repetitive motion injury?

LATE SHRI KVK RAJU SIR B DAY CELEBRATED AT KAKINADA NFCL

Determination of Total Organic Carbon in Purified Water

Determination of Total Organic Carbon in Purified Water

This method for determining total organic carbon (TOC) indirectly measures the total amount of organic substances present in water for pharmaceutical use. The molecules of organic matter in water are oxidised to produce carbon dioxide which is then measured in an instrument and from the result, the concentration of carbon in the water is calculated. The determination of carbon in water may be made either on-line (in the line of supply of the water) or offline. Irrespective of the method used, the system is qualified by analysing a standard solution of a substance that is easily oxidisable (such as sucrose) at a concentration adjusted to give an instrument response corresponding to the TOC limit to be measured, and by interpreting the results in limit tests.


The suitability of the system is determined by analysis of a solution prepared with a substance that is oxidisable with difficulty (such as lA-benzoquinone).


Apparatus: Any suitable apparatus capable of discriminating between organic and inorganic carbon either by purging inorganic carbon from the sample under examination before oxidisation or by the measurement of the inorganic carbon and subtraction from the total carbon, may be used.

The instrument manufacturer's instructions should be followed for installation and subsequent operations. The instrument should be calibrated and the system suitability should be verified at suitable intervals. The apparatus must have a limit of detection specified by the manufacturer of 0.05 mg or less of carbon per litre.

Glassware. Use glassware that has been thoroughly cleaned by a method that will remove organic matter (5.1). Use TOC water for the final rinse of glassware.

Solutions

TOC water. Highly purified water complying with the following specifications:

Conductivity. Not more than 1.0 microS cm-1 at 25°

Test solution. Collect carefully the water to be tested in an airtight container with minimum head space and examine it with minimum delay.

Standard solution. Dissolve sucrose, previously dried at 105° for 3 hours, in sufficient TOC water to produce a solution containing 1.19 mg of sucrose per litre (0.50 mg of carbon per litre).

System suitability solution. Dissolve 1,4-benzoquinone in sufficient TOC water to produce a solution containing 0.75 mg of lA-benzoquinone per litre (0.50 mg of carbon per litre).

NOTE - Use TOC water obtained at the same time as that used to prepare the standard solution and the system suitability solution.

Control solutions. Prepare suitable blank solutions or other solutions needed for establishing the base for calibration adjustments. Run the appropriate blanks for zeroing the instrument.

System suitability. Run successively the TOC water, standard solution and system suitability solution and record the responses rw, rs and rs" respectively. Calculate the percentage response efficiency from the expression:

the system is suitable if the response efficiency is not less than 85 per cent and not more than 115 per cent of the theoretical response.

Procedure. Run the test solution and record the response, rt. The test solution complies with the test if rt is not greater than rs-rw.

Kakinada RLNG terminal to be ready by 2013-end

The FSRU/LNG terminal is planned with an initial capacity of 3.5 million tonnes a year and could generate 14 mmscm gas daily

Andhra Pradesh, which is in the throes of a severe power shortage, is likely to get relief by December 2013 when the floating storage and re-gasification unit (FSRU) off the Kakinada coast is set to commence operations.

The FSRU/LNG terminal, the first such facility on the East Coast, is planned with an initial capacity of 3.5 million tonnes a year and could generate 14 mmscm gas every day, translating into additional power generation of 2,800 MW by the gas-fired power projects.

“We have commenced the exercise to identify a suitable ship to house the terminal in the global market for acquiring it on a long-term lease,” a senior official told The Hindu.

Growing needs

The proposed facility, with an initial investment of Rs. 1,000 crore, would supply RLNG, a preferred feedstock for the power, industrial and other sectors to meet the growing needs of the State. The facility would engender the much needed boost for development of natural gas usage in the State and the required infrastructure for transmission and distribution.

The development follows a memorandum of understanding signed between GAIL Gas Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gas Authority of India Limited at the Partnership summit hosted here in January 2012. A joint venture, A. P. Gas Distribution Corporation, has been formed to execute the project.

Price may come down

The APGDC official, who did not wish to be quoted, said the RLNG produced at the terminal could be priced at around US $ 18 a Million Metric British Thermal Unit (MMBTU) going by the current pricing level, but it could come down by the time the unit becomes operational. The generation cost could reach a high of Rs. 8.6 a unit covering fixed and variable costs, given the current level of pricing.

Infrastructure and Investment Department Secretary Sunil Sharma said the joint venture would be funded by the APGDC with the support of GAIL, while the State Government would facilitate necessary permissions, registrations, approvals and clearances from the departments concerned.

What Types of Oil Are Included in the SPCC Plan?

Oils are generally broken down into two main groups--petroleum and nonpetroleum types. Petroleum products are more toxic and tend to be more harmful to the environment and human health. However, nonpetroleum oils can also damage the environment if they are discharged in large quantities.

Each type of oil exhibits different characteristics, and thus contingency, response, and cleanup strategies may vary depending on the type of oil stored. In particular, the density of the oil is an indicator as to whether the oil will sink or float on the surface of water. While most oils have a density of less than one and tend to float on the surface, some have other characteristics and can sink in the water column. These are important considerations in determining the best method of responding to and containment of spills.

PETROLEUM OILS

Petroleum oils are generally broken down into crude and refined oils.

Crude Oils

Here are some examples of crude oils:
Class A (Light Volatile Oils). These oils are highly fluid and thus can spread rapidly when spilled. They are generally clear, have a strong odor, a high evaporation rate, and are usually very flammable. Although they can be highly toxic, they do not tend to adhere to surfaces, and flushing with water generally removes them.
Class B (Nonsticky Oils). Class B oils are less toxic than Class A oils. These oils have a waxy feel and adhere more firmly to surfaces than Class A oils, thus requiring a more vigorous flushing with water for removal.
Class C (Heavy Sticky Oils). Characteristics of Class C oils include a viscous and sticky consistency and usually a brown or black color. Although toxicity is relatively low, wildlife can be smothered if contaminated. The oil is difficult to remove from surfaces and will often sink in water.

Class D (Nonfluid Oils). Class D oils are relatively nontoxic and black in color. However, when they coat surfaces, cleanup is extremely difficult.

Refined Oils

The following represent types of refined oils and their characteristics:
Gasoline. Gasoline is very light, spreads and evaporates quickly, and is highly flammable. Gasoline is amenable to biodegradation, but the use of dispersants is not appropriate unless a significant human health or safety factor exists.
Kerosene. Kerosene exhibits many of the same characteristics as gasoline, but it is not as
amenable to biodegradation. Thus, it is much more persistent in the environment.
No. 2 Fuel Oil. This oil is lightweight, spreads quickly, and is easily dispersed. It is not volatile, does not form emulsions, and is relatively nonpersistent in the environment.
No. 4 Fuel Oil. Low volatility and medium weight are characteristic of No. 4 fuel oil. The oil can be dispersed if it is treated quickly, but it is somewhat persistent in the environment.
No. 5 Fuel Oil. Also known as “Bunker B Oil,” it is a medium-to-heavy material with low volatility. It must be heated in cold weather and is nearly impossible to disperse.
No. 6 Fuel Oil. This fuel oil may be heavier than water and does not readily dissolve or disperse. It has low volatility, and because of its heavy weight, it often sinks and forms tar balls, lumps, and emulsions. No. 6 fuel oil is also referred to as “Bunker C Oil.”
Lubricating Oil. Although it is somewhat persistent in the environment, most lubricating oils can be easily dispersed if they are treated promptly. Lubricating oils are used for various commercial and industrial applications and may vary extensively in viscosity.