LLC “Balakovskiye Mineralniye Udobrenia” regularly carries out large preventive work aimed at preventing negative effects upon the environment and nature. Lately, LLC “BMU” implements a large-scale updating of the production lines. An invariable principle in choosing technologies and hardware equipment to be installed at the plant is the low pollution level of the environment. As a whole, the expenditures for accomplishment of nature-conservative measures made in LLC “BMU” throughout the period of 2002 to 2004 amounted to 75,764.6 thousand rubles.

Protection of ambient air

The enterprise does not exceed the established standards of maximum permissible emissions starting from 2002. To achieve such conditions, it is provisioned, first of all, to accomplish the nature-conservative measures in the sulphuric acid production, since the emission share of this production makes up 70 to 78% of the total amount of emissions. To this end, the catalyst chambers and drying towers in SK-20 and SK-17, 1st polyhydrate absorber in SK-20, contact mass in SK-17 (35 tons) were replaced.
In order to reduce the dust discharge levels, two aspirating installations were mounted on the apatit bins, and work is carried out on introduction of technology consisting in transfer of apatit with the use of “solid layer”.

Protection of water basin

LLC “BMU” is a single plant producing fertilizers in Russia which employs a drainless system of using water for technological needs. In 1985 Balakovsky chemical plant was awarded a medal for operation of the drainless system at the All-Russia Exhibition of Achievements in National Economy. The drainless system of water consumption was put into operation in 1973, it was worked out by “NIUIF” (Moscow) and designed by “GYPROKHIM” (Saint-Petersburg).
The system underwent modifications in the course of its operating period, however, it remained invariable as to absence of discharge. The main components of the drainless system include water rotation systems and hydraulic structures. At present, the enterprise operates 6 water-rotation cycles having the total design capacity of the order of 700 thousand m3/day.

During the last three years, LLC “BMU” spent more than 13 million rubles for recovery and repair of the water-rotation systems and replacement of pumping outfit. In particular, in order to maintain the system in normal operating condition, the following works have been performed:
- all water-rotation systems have been repaired (the encasement, pumping outfit have been replaced; head pieces, fans and pipelines have been repaired);
- the grab crane has been replaced, thickeners Nos 1 and 2, vacuum filter No. 6 have been repaired to improve operation of the neutralization station and to purify the waste water;
- the works on replacement of the river water pipeline 1,150 m long (2,700 thousand rubles) outside the enterprise industrial area are in progress to exclude losses of water resources. A section of the household water pipeline 1,020 r.m long laid in the enterprise territory has been replaced.

Protection of subsurface water and measures on protection of environment against industrial and consumption waste

Heavy waste in any production of phosphorous-containing mineral fertilizers is phosphogypsum which is stored in refused heaps at the Balakovsky chemical plant. At the end of the 90-ies, when the enterprise was on the verge of bankruptcy, the refused heaps of phosphogypsum represented a real hazard. It was so till the year of 1999 when LLC “Balakovskiye Mineralniye Udobrenia” became the owner of the plant. By the day of purchase of the enterprise, the refused heaps went beyond the limits of the established boundaries, and their outflows polluted a fish pond located nearby, there was a real risk of polluting river Bolshoi Irguiz. It was the reason why LLC “Balakovskiye Mineralniye Udobrenia”, concurrently with recovery of the equipment designed for production of main types of products, started to solve the environmental issues from the very first days of its activity. In spite of the fact that construction of a new refused heap could be rather less expensive, the company invested about 50 million rubles in expansion and reconstruction of the former one. The project has passed the State ecological expert examination with the positive result. Constructed along the edge of the refused heap is a levee provided with the curtain grouting. Thus, the protection of underground and surface waters is provided against outflows from the refused heap. In addition, the territory of refused heaps of phosphogypsum is provided with drainage systems in the form of gutters, accumulating reservoirs and pumping units designed to pump out waste water and to return it to the production cycle.

Among other things, the following works were accomplished in order to reduce negative effect of the enterprise activity upon condition of subsurface water:
- replacement of household faeces collector at section BMU-BRT 2.3 km long, the expenses amounting to 1,483.3 thousand rubles;
- replacement of industrial and rainwater drainage along passage 2-2, the expenses amounting to 1,536.8 thousand rubles;
- accomplishment of storm sewage system of the main building of TsFU (1,126.55 thousand rubles);
- repairs of a section of industrial and rainwater drainage from boiler plant No. 1 to passage B-B (70 running meters, expenses – 246.5 thousand rubles);
- works on reestablishing the resources of household potable water (850 thousand rubles).
Phosphogypsum is an excellent reclamation agent. It is worth noting that the enterprise increases its sales for the agricultural needs every year:
- 3,989 tons in 2003;
- 9,790 tons in 2004;
- 26,000 tons in 2005.

The enterprise discards polyethylene and polypropylene waste, paper waste, oil waste, exhaust catalyst, luminescent tubes every year. The enterprise employees perform regular works on equipping the territory with modern amenities and planting of greenery. So, the expenditures on planting of greenery made up 55 thousand rubles in 2002, 67 thousand rubles in 2003 and 156 thousand rubles in 2004.