3. Environmental Protection

The Gazprom Group takes a responsible attitude towards preserving the environment for the current and future generation. The Group makes strong effort to mitigate its negative environmental impact, meet environmental standards and stay in close contact with all the stakeholders, including local communities in the regions where PJSC Gazprom operates, employees of the Group companies, public authorities, and non-profit organizations.

 

RUB 97.54 billion

total environmental expenses by the Gazprom Group

 

-6 %

decrease in waste generation

+24,6 %

fuel and energy savings resulting from the implementation of energy saving programs

Alexander Ishkov

Deputy Head of Department — Head of Directorate at PJSC Gazprom, Doctor of Chemistry, Professor, Winner of the USSR State Prize, three-times winner of the Russian Government’s Science and Technology Prize, Honored ecologist of the Russian Federation

Alexander coordinates the Gazprom Group’s innovation program, comprehensive environmental policy, as well as energy efficiency and energy saving policy. He ensures the operation of environmental and energy management systems as well as the achievement of corporate goals.

3. Enviromental protection ›

Environmental Protection

PJSC Gazprom’s commitment to the sustainable development principles underlies its long-term strategic goals in environmental protection.

  • The Company works continuously to mitigate its negative impact on the environment and takes every step possible to save resources, preserve the climate and conserve biodiversity.
  • In its capital investment projects, Gazprom minimizes risks of adverse environmental impacts, in particular, on highly vulnerable natural environments and the environments that need to be protected and preserved as a matter of crucial importance.
  • PJSC Gazprom insures itself against environmental risks, prioritizing environmental damage prevention over remediation.
  • The Company improves energy efficiency of its production processes and takes measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • We also respect the interests of indigenous minorities and their right to preserve traditional lifestyles and original living environments.
  • PJSC Gazprom promotes environmental awareness among its employees and supports their involvement in the mitigation of environmental risks, continuous improvement of the environmental management system and environmental performance indicators.
  • The Company makes its environmental data openly available to every stakeholder.
Documents Regulating Environmental Protection
  • Environmental Policy of PJSC Gazprom
  • Comprehensive Environmental Program of PJSC Gazprom for 2020–2024

Environmental Policy

The Environmental PolicyApproved by resolution of the Management Committee of OJSC Gazprom No. 21 dated May 21, 2015 reflects the current trends in environmental protection, energy efficiency and climate impact mitigation. The document sets forth Gazprom’s key commitments and how they will be met:

  • guarantee of environmental safety, in particular, during the development of hydrocarbon fields in the continental shelf and the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation;
  • minimization of adverse environmental impacts, in particular, on highly vulnerable natural environments and the environments that need to be protected and preserved as a matter of crucial importance.

Management of the Environmental Policy

The Environmental Management System (EMS) is the mainstay of PJSC Gazprom’s Environmental Policy. The EMS encompasses all management levels ranging from the Company’s Board of Directors to branches and production facilities of its subsidiaries.

As part of the EMS, Gazprom sets corporate environmental targets for a three-year period and carries out environmental protection programs. The commitments made by Gazprom underlie its long-term strategic goals in environmental protection.

Activities of Gazprom’s Subsidiaries Covered by EMS

  • Natural gas and condensate production, including offshore production;
  • gas and condensate processing;
  • gas and gas condensate transportation;
  • underground gas storage;
  • exploration;
  • well construction, enhancement and overhaul, including offshore wells;
  • construction and operation of offshore drilling rigs, specialized ships and other watercraft;
  • development and operation of offshore fields, onshore supply bases, and port infrastructure;
  • power and water supply to the Unified Gas Supply System facilities and the operation of UGSS power-generating equipment;
  • management of investment projects to build UGSS facilities.

The EMS comprises the structural units of PJSC Gazprom’s Administration, 37 wholly owned subsidiaries engaged in the Group’s core activities (gas and gas condensate exploration, production, transportation, storage and processing) and managing capital investment projects, PJSC Gazprom Environmental Inspectorate, and Gazprom VNIIGAZ Corporate Research and Development Center for Environmental Protection and Energy Performance.

Structure of PJSC Gazprom’s Environmental Management System

The Management Committee of PJSC Gazprom is its supreme governance body for environmental protection management. Members of the Management Committee and executives of structural units of PJSC Gazprom’s Administration sit on the Coordinating Committee for Responsible Use of Natural Resources. The directorate in charge of the Gazprom Group’s comprehensive environmental policy and energy efficiency improvement policy carries out decisions made by the Coordinating Committee and top managers and communicates with PJSC Gazprom’s subsidiaries and entities. PJSC Gazprom’s EMS Improvement Task Force is entrusted with delivering a comprehensive approach to environmental protection problems.

 

Certification and Audit of the Environmental Management System

The EMS of PJSC Gazprom is certified for compliance with the requirements of ISO 14001:2015 “Environmental management systems — Requirements with guidance for use”. Based on the recertification audit held in December 2020, the EMS of PJSC Gazprom was certified for compliance with ISO 14001:2015 until December 2023. In 2021, the Company passed a surveillance audit to confirm the EMS compliance with ISO 14001:2015.

 

Gazprom Group’s Major Environmental Rankings in 2021

The effectiveness of PJSC Gazprom’s Environmental Policy is confirmed by independent public rating agencies.

Gazprom ranks among the leaders of the “Responsibility and Transparency” and “Sustainable Development Vector” indices of RUIE. Its subsidiaries have long topped the Oil and Gas Production and Transportation category of the Fundamental Efficiency Rating compiled by Interfax-ERA for major companies and reflecting their environmental performance and energy efficiency.

PJSC Gazprom moved up two places to 6th in the environmental transparency rating of Russian oil and gas companiesRating by CREON Group and WWF Russia.

In 2021, the Gazprom Group companies were named the best in the Russian oil and gas industry according to CDP’s international rating. Based on the performance indicators disclosed, they were assigned B for Climate Change, while PJSC Gazprom received A in 4 out of 11 categories (Emissions Scope 1 and 2, Management, Emission Reduction Initiatives, and Disclosure of Opportunities). CDP experts once again recognized the fact that Gazprom takes all the possible and coordinated steps to preserve the climate, discloses full and reliable information on climate issues, and works extensively to manage and solve climate-related challenges.

Petr Bubley

Head of Environmental Service at Mosenergo, three-times winner of the Moscow Government’s Environmental Award

In 2021, Petr oversaw initiatives to improve environmental safety at Mosenergo power plants and an audit that confirmed compliance of Mosenergo’s Environmental Management System with ISO 14001:2015.

3. Environmental Protection ›

Reaching Enviromental Targets

Implementation of the Environmental Policy

In order to keep sustainable development on track and achieve corporate environmental targets, PJSC Gazprom carries out its Comprehensive Environmental Program for 2020–2024 that provides for a set of measures to introduce consumption limits and adopt the best available technologies. The measures completed in 2021 enabled the achievement of PJSC Gazprom’s Corporate Environmental Targets for 2020–2022.

 

Corporate Environmental Target Organizations within the EMS scope Baseline (2018) Actual performance (2021) Target achievement status
Reduce GHG emissions during transportation of natural gas, t of СО2 equivalent / bcm•km All subsidiaries involved in natural gas transportation 55.30 52.25 5.52 %
Reduce nitrogen oxide emissions in the atmosphere during transportation of natural gas, t/mcm All subsidiaries involved in natural gas transportation 4.23 4.07 3.78 %
Reduce excessive discharges of pollutants into surface water bodies, % All subsidiaries 5.29 0.12 5.17 p.p.
Reduce the share of waste sent for burial in the total waste managed, % All subsidiaries 38.28 14.26 24.02 p.p.
Reduce the share of subsidiaries whose fees for excessive negative environmental impact are above 5%, % All subsidiaries 35 13.51 21.49 p.p.
Documents Adopted in 2021

In the reporting year, PJSC Gazprom adopted another standardization document titled “Methodological guidance on selecting a clean-up technique for oil and petroleum product spills in the Russian Arctic when developing response plans based on the assessment of potential environmental damage”.

 

Environmental Safety of Production Facilities and Equipment

In 2021, PJSC Gazprom continued to persistently reduce its environmental footprint.

The Company made a decision to increase 1.5-fold the number of mobile compressor stations for trunkline repairs. This will prevent up to 80% of to-be-released methane from getting into the atmosphere.

The project titled Technical Solutions for Higher Efficiency of Treatment Facilities won an annual Regional Development: the Best for Russia award. These solutions comprise cultivation and introduction of microorganisms into the sewage treatment tanks to guarantee a thorough and effective cleanup of effluents.

Raising Environmental Awareness among Employees, Contractors and Local Communities

The Gazprom Group invests a lot of effort in raising environmental awareness among its employees, partners, contractors and local communities in the regions where its companies operate.

 

Environmental Training of Employees

In 2021, 7,429 employees completed environmental training programs at different educational institutions, including Gazprom Corporate Institute, PJSC Gazprom’s leading corporate institution for continuous professional education.

 

Formore details on enviromental training programs for the Gazprom Group's employees, see PJSC Gazprom Enviromental Report 2021.

 

Monitoring Compliance with Environmental Laws by Suppliers and Contractors

The Gazprom Group requires that the suppliers and contractors strictly adhere to the established environmental protection standards and procedures when working at Gazprom’s facilities. As part of the bidding and procurement processes, the bidders have to present documents certifying their compliance with relevant requirements. Contractors failing to meet the above criteria are not allowed to take part in the bidding and procurement procedures.

Subsidiaries of PJSC Gazprom have a construction control system in place to monitor that the suppliers and contractors working at the Company’s facilities take measures and fulfill obligations stipulated by PJSC Gazprom’s Environmental Policy and that they meet environmental protection requirements set out in the environmental laws of the Russian Federation.

Environmental Risks

GRI102-11

Risks (threats and opportunities) are identified and assessed in accordance with the requirements set out in the regulatory documents of PJSC Gazprom’s Risk Management and Internal Control System (RMICS).

In 2017, the Company identified key risk categories, one of them being environmental risksOrder of PJSC Gazprom No. 848 dated December 15, 2017 on Approval of Provisional Risk Index of PJSC Gazprom, its Subsidiaries and Entities and Appointment of Risk Owners and Co-owners identified and assessedAccording to the Risk Management Guidelines Based on Qualitative Assessment approved by decree of PJSC Gazprom No. 394 dated November 28, 2017 annually. Results of risk assessments (assessments of threats and opportunities) are disclosed in PJSC Gazprom’s Risk Register and a risk description.

PJSC Gazprom’s EMS assesses the risks for each of the Company’s subsidiaries and production facilities. Mitigation measures are developed when environmental risks are found to be high. These risks are also assessed as part of design and construction of the Company’s facilities. Capital projects are audited by competent organizations and government authorities.

Any existing problems or long-term risks identified are then analyzed at the corporate level, with measures scheduled and taken to mitigate those risks and solve the existing problems.

In accordance with the precautionary principle1 PJSC Gazprom takes steps to minimize potential technogenic impact on the natural environment, especially when it is necessary to preserve rare and endangered species of flora and fauna along with unique natural areas and sites.

As part of investment project development, Gazprom’s experts perform a comprehensive environmental impact assessment and identify the most vulnerable ecosystems. Their findings are used to develop project solutions aimed at preventing the disturbance of natural balance in the course of the construction and operation of Gazprom’s facilities. The Gazprom Group’s companies implement compensatory initiatives to preserve natural ecosystems, including measures to restore fish stocks.

Operational environmental control and monitoring (OECM) is carried out to track various environmental parameters, including the state of flora and fauna.

Key Indicators

Key indicators of the Gazprom Group’s environmental performance in 2021

 

97,543.46 RUB million

Total environmental protection expenditures

 

2,506,310 tons

Pollutant emissions

 

243.28 mmt of СО2 equivalent

GHG emissions (Scope 1)

 

3,046,590 tons

Waste generation

 

3,225.44 mcm

Water discharge into surface water bodies

 

17,199.40 ha

Area of remediated land