The PGNiG Group’s operations affect the ecological balance. The operation of natural gas and crude oil fields along with the distribution of these fossil fuels have an impact on the natural environment. On the other hand, the use of natural gas helps reduce air pollutant emissions below levels recorded for the other fossil fuels.

All the companies of the PGNiG Group seek to minimise the negative impact of their operations. To this end, the companies follow both the applicable regulations of Polish and EU law, as well as their own internal standards and instructions. The implementation and certification of environmental management systems at most of the PGNiG branches and Group companies has delivered a number of notable environmental benefits. Our efforts are primarily geared towards limiting our negative environmental impact and monitoring the processes on an ongoing basis. These rules are observed by the Group companies not only in their operations in Poland, but also in exploratory work abroad. Environment-oriented projects are undertaken across all areas of the PGNiG Group’s business – from hydrocarbon production to distribution to storage.

Following the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act, the PGNiG Group companies conduct evaluation and land reclamation work in areas contaminated in the course of their past operations (including those related to traditional gas production), with a view to restoring them to the condition prescribed by the environmental quality standards.

In addition, PGNiG strives to educate its employees in environmental protection, by organising training courses and conferences at which key issues related to environmental protection are discussed. Such courses and conferences are also aimed at defining a common range of tasks to be implemented in the future, primarily those relating to the CSR Strategy goals for the Group.

Environmental Management System

The Environmental Management System operates on the basis of significant environmental aspects that directly affect other elements of the system – environmental policy, tasks and objectives, monitoring and measurement, as well as operational control.

Most PGNiG Group companies have implemented, certificated and maintain the PN-EN ISO 14001 -based Environmental Management System (EMS), which is frequently integrated with other systems, such as quality assurance, OHS, information security management, and the HSE Operator System.

The PGNiG Head Office has commenced work on general guidelines for the operation of the OHS, fire protection, HSE and environmental management units, with a view to developing and implementing the QHSE Quality, Health, Safety, Environment Management System at PGNiG. The system, which is compliant with ISO 9001, 14001 and OHSAS 18001 standards, as well as the HSE guidelines, will cover all organisational units of PGNiG. In Q1 2014 PGNiG completed the implementation of the Environmental Management System at its trading divisions. Full ISO 14001-compliant system documentation was prepared, including operational control procedures and guidelines. All system documents are compatible with the structure of the newly established PGNiG Retail, and may be easily adjusted for implementation at that company.

For more information on environmental protection, see Exploration and Production (page no. 70) and Generation (page no. 105).