Working together for a cleaner industry in Georgia

With support from the International Climate Initiative (IKI), the Nitric Acid Climate Action Group (NACAG) is helping a major Georgian chemical producer cut greenhouse gas emissions from its industrial plant.

The production of mineral fertilisers is crucial to global food security and economic development. However, many older plants emit large amounts of greenhouse gases during production. The production of nitric acid in particular causes high emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O). This greenhouse gas is around 273 times more harmful to the climate than CO₂. Against this backdrop, the Georgian chemical producer Rustavi Azot has taken a significant step toward reducing industrial greenhouse gas emissions in collaboration with the global initiative NACAG, which is supported by the IKI. The collaboration is an impressive example of how technological progress, political commitment, and corporate responsibility can work together to make concrete and measurable contributions to global climate protection.

To qualify for funding from NACAG, plant operators must undergo a comprehensive due diligence process. Although challenging for Rustavi Azot in 2022, this process was also invaluable: it provided an opportunity to compare existing procedures with international standards, identify potential for improvement, and further develop the company's own sustainability measures.

The assessment provided important insights into opportunities for optimization in the production process and for the further development of data monitoring and reporting. The company was encouraged to further expand responsible operating processes and align itself more closely with global best practices.

As part of the collaboration, Rustavi Azot has implemented reduction technologies that save approximately 430,000 tons of CO₂ equivalents per year. This reduction is equivalent to the emissions of over two million passenger flights from Tbilisi to Berlin.

Rustavi Azot's commitment is also evident in financial terms: the company has invested significant funds of its own in the new technology and has committed to covering all operating and maintenance costs in the long term. This demonstrates a clear and lasting commitment to climate-friendly industrial production. 

The cooperation between Rustavi Azot and NACAG shows that progress is possible when companies are willing to invest, when governments create clear framework conditions, and when international initiatives provide technical expertise and support.

Rustavi Azot sums it up: “Our plant believes that sustainability is not just a responsibility – it is an opportunity to redefine industrial progress. We are committed to reducing our environmental footprint through innovation, efficiency, and collaboration.”