Responsible Use of Natural Resources
Precipitations recorded in Sayaxché throughout the year, enable palm producers of the sector to manage without an irrigation system. Thanks to the more than 1 thousand 800 millimeters of mean annual rainfall, at REPSA we do not irrigate our plantations.
This climatic characteristic of the sector, along with the conditions required by oil palm, has made Sayaxché an optimal place for the crop.
Although the dry season, from December to April, records little precipitation, it still meets the required boundaries not to cause water stress to the palm.
On the other hand, the oil extraction process inside the mill plant is purely physical, so it only requires water, in its liquid form and steam, which is used for the process and, then after being treated, it returns to the ecosystem via fertigation.
Other water uses are for cleaning activities of different areas and plant equipment and the quality control laboratory, as well as toilet facilities, showers, kitchen, and dining hall, used by the collaborators in different facilities.
Our commitment is to only use the required water for the process and related activities; thus, we keep record of its consumption.
plant is purely physical, so it only requires water, in liquid form and steam, which is used for the process and, after being treated, it is returned to the ecosystem through fertigation.
Surface Water Bodies Protection Plan
Action Plan for
Pasion River - Oct 2020
Water quality
At REPSA we maintain strict monitoring of water quality both inside and outside its operations. Within our operations, we have an ordinary and special wastewater treatment system.
In our ordinary wastewater treatment systems, we comply with governmental agreement 236-2006 of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources thanks to the plants with a pre-treatment phase and primary and secondary treatment. The final disposal of ordinary wastewater is its incorporation into the soil within the oil palm cultivation areas.
Within our operation, we also maintain continuous monitoring of drinking water verifying that it complies with the Guatemalan Technical Standard COGUANOR NTG 29001.
Outside of our operations, we maintain periodic sampling and monitoring of water bodies to corroborate the water quality of rivers, lagoons and streams. The monitoring is carried out at 12 established points and the physical-chemical, microbiological and heavy metal parameters of the Government Agreement 236-2006 of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources are analyzed.
Currently in REPSA we carry out this monitoring in a participatory way, inviting our stakeholders to accompany the sampling route and procedure. In this way, we reaffirm our commitment to transparency and make our stakeholders participate in progress towards sustainability.
For palm cultivation to be friendly to the soils in which it is developed, it is necessary to implement agricultural practices that reduce the impact on the soil and preserve or improve its quality. For this reason, at REPSA we have a series of practices for the conservation of the soils where we carry out our operations.
o maintain a fertile and productive soil, it is necessary to apply management and conservation practices that prevent erosion from occurring. To avoid this, we carry out different soil conservation practices, ranging from the use of natural coverings, living and dead barriers, contribution of organic matter through pruned palm leaves, rachis or gopher, ashes, fiber, fertigation (only in the applied areas).
REPSA maintains constant monitoring of air quality at two points of its operation. This monitoring of particles and air quality is carried out in two schemes: with our own equipment every six months and with external laboratories duly accredited every six months. It should be noted that within the benefits of oil palm there is a considerable coefficient of carbon dioxide capture. Every year, in just one hectare of palm, 29 metric tons of CO2 are captured. It should be noted that within the benefits of oil palm ther is a considerable coefficient of carbon dioxide capture. Every year, in just one hectare of palm, 29 metric tons of CO2 are captured.
