5.5. Water Resources Protection
Key Documents
- Water Code of the Russian Federation No. 74-FZ dated June 3, 2006
- Federal Law No. 461-FZ On Water Supply and Water Disposal dated December 7, 2011
- Federal Law No. 7-FZ On Environmental Protection dated January 10, 2002
- Environmental Policy of PJSC Gazprom
- Comprehensive Environmental Program of PJSC Gazprom for 2020–2024
Water Resources Management
The Gazprom Group recognizes the importance of water conservation for the well-being and health of local communities and the successful economic development of Russia. PJSC Gazprom effectively manages water resources in accordance with the Group’s Environmental Policy, laws of the Russian Federation, international standards and best practices.
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progress in achieving the corporate environmental target of reducing excessive discharge of pollutants into surface water bodiesPJSC Gazprom’s Corporate Environmental Target for 2020–2022 to reduce the share of polluted and insufficiently treated wastewater discharged into surface water bodies vs. the 2018 baseline level of 5.29%.
The Company’s main water resources management targets:
- reduce wastewater discharges into surface water bodies;
- improve wastewater treatment.
PJSC Gazprom uses various sources of water in its processes. Water is withdrawn from surface and subterranean sources in accordance with the applicable laws (and pursuant to water use agreements and extraction licenses) without causing any material impact on the environment.
None of the regions of the Group’s production operations is classified as areas with water stressAccording to PJSC Gazprom’s assessment based on the World Resources Institute’s Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas..
Monitoring Effects on Natural Water Resources
The Gazprom Group monitors the quality of surface and ground water, bed sediments, water sources for utility and drinking purposes, state of geological environment and wastewater (including its temperature) using the OEM system.
The volume of wastewater is also measured and monitored to analyze its impact on ecosystems.
With the assistance of accredited laboratories, Group companies annually analyze millions of samples to assess the contamination of facilities’ industrial discharges, drinking water, wastewater, surface water bodies and soils.
The study findings are then used to develop measures to manage PJSC Gazprom’s environmental activities.
Measures to Reduce Adverse Impact on Water Resources
The Gazprom Group’s measures to reduce excessive pollutant discharges into surface water bodies:
- the use of innovative wastewater treatment technologies and solutions to make wastewater treatment more effective;
- construction, reconstruction and modernization of treatment facilities for industrial, stormwater and utility effluents;
- implementation of recirculated and zero-discharge water systems for recycling waste and drainage water.
Water Consumption and Discharge
The Gazprom Group actively engages with stakeholders in relation to water resources and does its utmost to guarantee high water quality in the regions of operation. The Group’s significant projects are subject to public hearings before being submitted for state expert review. The Group analyzes stakeholder expectations related to water resources and does whatever is necessary to meet them. The interests of stakeholders are also taken into account when disclosing information on water use.
As a water supplier in certain Russian regions, PJSC Gazprom is responsible for providing the local communities with clean water. In a number of cases, PJSC Gazprom receives wastewater under contracts with third parties, which prompts the Company to pay even closer attention to non-production wastewater discharges.
PJSC Gazprom obtains water use permits in a timely manner, maintains water use records and reports, ensures compliance with sanitary and hygienic requirements, and provides all employees of the Group companies with required volumes of clean water.
| Indicator | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | Change 2022/2021, % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From surface sources, incl.: | 2,824.11 | 3,440.01 | 3,193.42 | −7.2 |
| freshwater | 2,781.69 | 3,405.83 | 3,156.76 | −7.3 |
| non-freshwater | 42.42 | 34.18 | 36.66 | +7.3 |
| From groundwater sources (freshwater) | 81.67 | 80.58 | 91.85 | +14.0 |
| From public water supply utilities (freshwater) | 137.96 | 133.97 | 142.46 | +6.3 |
| From other water supply systems (freshwater) | 192.89 | 243.68 | 288.28 | +18.3 |
| Total | 3,236.63 | 3,898.24 | 3,716.01 | −4.7 |
| Indicator | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | Change 2022/2021, % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water used, including water used for: | 3,175.81 | 3,836.75 | 3,648.06 | −4.9 |
| production purposes | 3,008.63 | 3,518.42 | 3,274.92 | −6.9 |
| utility and drinking purposes | 31.83 | 32.83 | 31.64 | −3.7 |
| other | 135.35 | 285.50 | 341.50 | +19.6 |
In 2022, water use by the Gazprom Group entities decreased by 5% year-on-year due to lower power generation by Gazprom Energoholding.
| Indicator | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | Change 2022/2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volume of recycled and reused water across the Gazprom Group, mcm | 11,071.61 | 11,851.75 | 11,888.10 | +0.3% |
| Share of recycled water across the Gazprom Group, % | 342 | 304 | 320 | +16 p. p. |
In 2022, the volume of recycled and reused water across the Gazprom Group went up 0.3% year-on-year.
| Indicator | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | Change 2022/2021, % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total, incl.: | 2,742.73 | 3,336.66 | 3,060.35 | −8.3 |
| freshwater | 2,713.76 | 3,301.89 | 3,027.53 | −8.3 |
| non-freshwater | 35.97 | 34.77 | 32.82 | −5.6 |
| To surface water bodies, total, incl.: | 2,610.78 | 3,225.44 | 2,937.95 | −8.9 |
| freshwater | 2,574.81 | 3,190.67 | 2,905.13 | −9.0 |
| non-freshwater | 35.97 | 34.77 | 32.82 | −5.6 |
| On landNo non-freshwater discharges in this line and below. | 0.94 | 0.99 | 1.01 | +2.0 |
| To subterranean layers | 43.37 | 23.24 | 26.87 | +15.6 |
| To irrigation sewage fields | 6.23 | 6.45 | 8.89 | +37.8 |
| To absorption fields | 0.46 | 0.46 | 0.59 | +28.3 |
| To holding basins | 0.43 | 0.57 | 0.61 | +7.0 |
| To public utilities | 68.95 | 69.61 | 74.06 | +6.4 |
| To other systems | 11.57 | 9.90 | 10.37 | +4.7 |
In 2022 the volume of water discharge decreased by 8.3% due to lower water intake for energy generation by Gazprom Energoholding.
Share of partially clean (untreated) water and water partially treated at purification plants in the total volume of wastewater discharged by the Gazprom Group’s facilities into surface water bodies, %
| Indicator | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | Change 2022/2021, p. p. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of partially clean (untreated) water and water partially treated at purification plants in the total volume of wastewater discharged | 97 | 97 | 97 | 0 |
