Objective 1

Involvement in the life of their local communities and collaboration on various projects are permanent fixtures on the Group companies’ agendas.  

Cooperation with local government – joint business projects

ProgramThe ‘Developer package’ project

The Mayor of the Town of Kalisz and the Head of the Greater Poland Gas Trading Division signed a letter of intent on April 18th 2011 expressing their commitment to cooperate under the ‘Developer package’ project. The initiative was established with a view to ensuring best-possible conditions for current and future developers who want to pursue their business objectives in Kalisz. In pursuit of the project, the Town of Kalisz established the Developer Support Unit, whose purpose is to provide planning information and data, as well as assist in obtaining the required permits and pre-development documentation. The Town of Kalisz also introduced financial support instruments, such as tax exemptions and concessions for creating new jobs.

Joint efforts by the Kalisz Town Council and the Kalisz Gas Sales Unit for air quality improvement

This initiative follows up on the project started in 2001 seeking to reduce air emissions in Kalisz caused by coal firing. The initiative represents a stimulus for the town’s residents to use energy-friendly energy carriers. By migrating from a coal-based heating system to a gas-based one, Kalisz residents can receive a project grant from the Kalisz budget, as a share in the cost of environmentally-friendly projects developed by individuals. In 2011, the Town of Kalisz reimbursed up to 70% of the project costs, with a cap of PLN 1,000. One of the representatives of the Gas Sales Unit in Kalisz is also a member of the review committee taking decisions on approving or rejecting the grant applications.

The initiative was launched in 2001, and by 2011 nearly 500 residents of Kalisz had used the support to convert their coal-fired systems into gas-fired ones. In 2011, the grant was used by 45 people. Not only is this campaign an excellent way to promote natural gas as an environmentally friendly fuel, but it first and foremost offers tangible environmental benefits, such as improved quality of air in the town of Kalisz (the town council annually contracts studies to measure the environmental effects of the conversion).

Cooperation with local governments – Carpathian Gas Trading Division

CGTD’s work with local government has continued without interruption since 2009. Local governments are or may be direct gas consumers, but by their nature also have a significant impact, directly and indirectly, on decisions taken by their affiliated or supervised (e.g. in terms of common budget management) entities, such as educational or health care units. In addition, since local governments issue/review development process-related decisions and documents, they are also excellent sources of information about land use plans and development prospects (and projects). Close cooperation between CGTD and the local government is based on the bilateral memorandum of cooperation concerning the exchange of development and project information. In 2011, CGTD held over 300 meetings with local government representatives, which led to the signing of 25 cooperation agreements.

Cooperation with local governments – Mazovian Gas Trading Division

As the basic territorial government unit, the gmina (municipality or commune) is responsible, among other things, for developing and maintaining land use planning policy within its boundaries, and for ensuring heat, electricity and gaseous fuel supplies. Therefore, recognising the importance and impact of land use planning documents in the planning and delivery of energy carriers, gas distribution companies are involved in cooperation with local government concerning the development of land use and energy planning documents, such as heat supply, electricity and gaseous fuel assumptions and delivery plans. This level of involvement contributes to the development of formal and legal conditions for supplying municipalities and communes with energy carriers, and enables the selection of those energy carriers which will be most favourable in terms of economy, practicality or environmental impact for residents and other users (including industrial consumers).

The PGNiG Group distribution companies work closely with local governments on an ongoing basis by designating units which are responsible for cooperating with municipalities and communes locally, e.g. within the operating areas of the individual Gas Distribution Divisions. This day-to-day interaction is intended to keep our units updated on current local government actions as regards developing/updating interim/final land use plans, and ensures cooperation on new gas network projects.