GE Recognizes Australian Plant with ecomagination Leadership Award

GE Water, a business unit of GE Energy, recently announced that it has awarded the Nyrstar Hobart plant in Tasmania, Australia with the GE ecomagination Leadership Award. Nyrstar, the world’s largest producer of zinc and a leading producer of lead, received the award on March 31 for implementing new management and technology processes that helped solve a water scarcity problem at its facility.

Nyrstar was recognized for its commitment to promote water conservation, which helped save 6.4 million gal of water per year and increased the Hobart plant’s water efficiency and reduced operating costs. The plant used an advanced cooling water solution from GE Water.

“Nyrstar’s receipt of GE’s ecomagination Leadership Award is an example of how a good relationship and a collaborative effort can deliver great results for the environment. The savings achieved helped us to conserve one of our most precious natural resources while improving the plant’s operating efficiency. We are honored to accept this award from GE Water," said Dr. Francis Trewinghe, general manager of Nyrstar’s Hobart plant. GE’s water technology also helped Nyrstar to reduce the plant’s high corrosion rates by at least 75% and improved water distribution to the surrounding communities.

“For many years, GE has supplied Nyrstar with water treatment products and services. Nyrstar’s belief in corporate responsibility has helped them to improve their water and energy efficiency while making a positive impact on the environment,” said David Gatenby, GE Water, country manager, Australia. “The drastic reduction in water use and increased efficiency earned Nyrstar’s Hobart facility the first GE ecomagination Leadership Award in Tasmania.”

The award is given to the top one percentile of GE Water's customers that demonstrate significant environmental and economical performance improvements, striking a balance between today’s environmental, industrial and sustainability challenges.

Source: GE Energy