November 25, 2020, Kyiv – Over three quarters, the Gas TSO of Ukraine (GTSOU) has reduced emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere by 61%, pollutants (NOx and CO) by 13%, reduced water consumption by 17%, waste generation by 55% compared to the same period in 2019. Significant environmental results became possible due to a set of implemented measures aimed at reducing the Company’s impact on the environment and reducing the volume of gas transit.
«The GTS operator of Ukraine is constantly working to improve environmental standards in accordance with leading international practices. This is an integral part of the Company’s development strategy. We are consistently replacing outdated equipment with more modern and ecological ones, introducing new methods for diagnosing gas leaks and energy-saving technologies, thereby reducing the impact on the environment. Our goal is to create the basis for the further integration of GTSOU into European energy markets, taking into account environmental requirements», – emphasized Pawel Stanczak, Deputy General Director for Development and Transformation of GTSOU.
Atmospheric air protection
For three quarters of 2020, GTSOU has reduced carbon emissions (CO2) into the atmosphere by 61%– up to 1,015 thousand tons due to the technical modernization of the infrastructure and due to a reduction in transit volumes. During the same period, the Company reduced the total volume of emissions of pollutants (NOx and CO) into the atmosphere by more than 13% – up to 24 thousand tons.
Furthermore, for 9 months GTSOU saved 1.8 million cubic meters of methane (CH4) by identifying and eliminating sources of leaks at infrastructure facilities. Specialized mobile laboratories examined 147 thousand potential sources of leaks. As a result, their intensity has been almost halved. To improve the efficiency of mobile laboratories and personnel of structural units on the reduction of sources of leaks, GTSOU purchased 17 more sets of modern equipment.
Water protection and use
For three quarters of 2020, GTSOU reduced water consumption by its structural units by 17% – up to 196 thousand cubic meters. 59% of these were used for household needs and 41% for industrial needs, such as hydraulic tests, watering the territory, washing activities.
Waste management
The Company has reduced industrial waste by 55% – up to 116.6 tons. They will be transferred for utilization or disposal to specialized Companies that have won the relevant tenders for Prozorro and concluded contracts with GTSOU for services in the field of waste management (#1, #2, #3, #4). Household waste was reduced by 25% (421 tons) and transferred to public utilities.
The Company is currently developing an internal regulatory document on waste management. It takes into account current requirements and directions of regulation in this area in accordance with European approaches. The new standard will establish the procedure for waste management operations generated at all stages of the life cycle of work and services.
Environmental taxes and permits
For three quarters of 2020, the accrual of environmental taxes by GTSOU amounted to UAH 20.4 million.
During this period, the Company received and reissued 103 permits for emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere air and received 6 permits for special water use.
Environmental management system
During the reporting period, GTSOU approved the Environmental and Energy Policy aimed at preserving the state of the environment and continuously improving energy efficiency in the provision of natural gas transportation services to Ukrainian and European customers. Furthermore, GTSOU continues to implement environmental and energy management systems ISO 14001: 2015 and ISO 50001: 2018 as important foundations for the further sustainable development of the Company. In the third quarter, the Company’s Environmental Specialists underwent training as internal auditors of environmental and energy management systems and received appropriate certificates in the areas.
Chemical terminology:
NOx – nitric oxide;
CO – carbon monoxide;
CH4 – methane or natural gas;
CO2 – carbon dioxide.