Russian energy major Gazprom released details of the progress the company made in 2019 on reaching its sustainability targets, including reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy savings and resource consumption.

In the company’s Environmental Report for 2019, released this week, Gazprom announced that it achieved all of its corporate environmental targets for the year. Details of the year’s achievements include:

• Saving of 3.3 billion cubic meters of gas, 330.3 million kWh of electricity, and 252,700 Gcal of heat. At the same time, gas production rose by 0.5 per cent to 500.1 billion cubic meters
• Reductions of air emissions by 31,300 tons, water consumption by 358.8 million cubic meters, and waste generation by 218,000 tons
• Greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 3.52 million tons of СО2 equivalent, or 1.5 per cent, compared to 2018

Additionally, Gazprom was the first Russian company to calculate the amount of its emissions using the 100-year Global Temperature change Potential, a metric considered increasingly important by the  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). On this basis, the actual carbon footprint from Gazprom’s production activities proved to be lower by another 25.2 million tons of СО2-equivalent.

In 2019, Gazprom also became the first Russian energy company to assess indirect greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the use of the products sold by the Group, in addition measuring direct emissions generated in the course of the production activities of the company’s facilities, and indirect emissions generated in the course of supplying energy to those facilities. The new measurement revealed that the carbon intensity of combustion of the Gazprom Group’s products by end-use consumers totaled 301.63 kg CO2e/boe, the lowest rate among the world’s largest oil and gas majors.

Commenting on the progress the company made in 2019, and its future sustainability goals, Gazprom Deputy Chairman of the Management Committee, and Head of Department Oleg Aksyutin, said in the report:

“Gazprom is conscientious in ensuring environmental safety and preserving natural resources. In the reporting year, we succeeded in mitigating the Company’s main negative environmental factors and achieving the corporate environmental goals. The Company introduced a comprehensive list of energy-saving measures and completed the implementation of ISO 50001:2018; PJSC Gazprom’s Energy Management System was successfully certified for the compliance with the requirements of the standard. In 2019, Gazprom’s Comprehensive Environmental Program for 2020–2024 was developed and approved, that envisaged a number of measures aligned with the national targets on innovative environmental development of the Russian economy.”

Aksyutin continued:

“By ensuring reliable supplies and satisfying the growing global demand for energy, Gazprom is implementing the best available techniques, focusing on energy performance improvements and reducing the carbon footprint of products. Our Company helps to shape the future that will be in tune with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.”