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ph: 604-688-2398 fx: 604-688-1963
CAN'T FIND SOMETHING? |
Business in Vancouver December 30, 2008-January 5, 2009; issue 1001 David Kratochvil President, COO, BioteQ Environmental Technologies Inc., Age: 39 David Kratochvil is seeing his company fortunes sink, but he couldn’t be happier. Those treasures, it turns out, are found in a cocktail of metals at the bottom of acid drainage ponds at about 70% of the world’s mine sites, and Kratochvil is leading a charge to safely recover them. Acid drainage, which is toxic to the environment, occurs when water and oxygen react with exposed sulphide minerals in waste rock, tailings and rock cuts, picking up heavy metals such as copper, zinc, cadmium, nickel, cobalt and arsenic along the way. Kratochvil said BioteQ’s processes selectively recover the metals, producing both a saleable metal product and clean water that can be safely discharged to the environment. “We take a portion of the metal or all of the metal,” said Kratochvil, who was appointed BioteQ’s president and chief operating officer in January 2008. “Or we get paid by cubic metre of water treated.” Previously the company’s vice-president responsible for overseeing engineering and development projects, Kratochvil joined as manager of engineering in 2001 after a three-year stint at an environmental consulting firm whose client at the time was BioteQ’s predecessor company. Before that, he worked in the papermaking industries in Canada, as well as in phosphate fertilizer production in Turkey, but in his new role has been instrumental in the commercial development of BioteQ’s process technologies and has overseen plant design and operations. BioteQ, a winner of the 2008 Globe Award for environmental excellence and one of B.C.’s 100 fastest-growing companies, operates water treatment plants at mine sites in Arizona and Quebec, with further plants under construction in Australia, China and Mexico. The company processed more than seven billion litres of wastewater in 2008, bringing in revenue of almost $6.5 million in the first nine months. Recognized as being a team builder, Kratochvil sees his biggest challenge, and also source of enjoyment, as the people side of the 85-employee business. • Birthplace: Prague, Czech Republic Where do you live now: Vancouver Highest level of education: PhD in chemical engineering Car or chosen mode of transport: Would rather not own a car; currently walk to work Currently reading: Anything non-fiction Last CD bought or music downloaded: Habib Koité (African artist) Favourite movie: The Buttoner (Czech), any James Bond or Pink Panther movie Favourite local restaurant: Coast Restaurant Profession you would most like to try: Educator Mentor: Several, including my PhD supervisor at McGill University, Prof. Boya Volesky Toughest business or professional decision: Working through issues with people who showed little interest in working with me rather than resign from a project and seriously set the company back in achieving its goals What’s left to do: Use knowledge to work and help Third World nations with water/food supply issues |
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