Alina Oprea • 14 September, 2023 at 10:20 AM
The total amount of waste generated by Transgaz in 2022 was 648,113 tons, according to the company's Sustainability Report for 2022. The main categories of waste generated at the company level mainly come from the maintenance activity of the gas transport network and from the construction activity/development of the gas transport infrastructure. The main activities in the field of environmental protection related to the year 2022 were planned and organized, mainly aiming at compliance with the legislative provisions in the area, prevention of pollution, and reduction of the risks of environmental incidents on the company's sites.
The company specifies that it monitors the proper management of waste, by carrying out specific actions that have in mind: the selective collection of all generated waste, hazardous and non-hazardous; and the proper storage of waste, so that the environmental factors - air, water, and soil - are not affected; carrying out specific analyzes to identify the type of waste (where applicable); disposal of waste by periodically handing it over to authorized companies, based on concluded contracts.
Transgaz announces in the report that it engages in an ethical manner and contributes through the practice of transparent and responsible business to the sustainable development of the economy and to social cohesion, at the same time improving the quality of life of employees and their families, as well as communities and society in which carries out its activity.
Also, Transgaz contributed to supporting a number of 71 social cases, worth RON 3.01 million (€602,000), with the following main directions: Medical and health - a number of 18 sponsorships worth RON 1.2 million (€240,000); Education, training, social and sports - a number of 34 sponsorships worth RON 1.2 million (€240,000); Other sponsorship expenses - a number of 19 sponsorships worth RON 602,600 (€120,500).
"We support through financial aid construction and/or reconstruction works of public spaces, places of worship (churches, monasteries) and we are concerned with the restoration of the vestiges of the national heritage", the report also shows.
The company also supports education and development by conducting practical activities for high school students in specific fields. Therefore, a collaboration agreement was signed for a period of 5 years with the National Gas School in Mediaș, through which high school students can carry out internships with the specialization of environmental technician and environmental quality protection.
Through the ten-year National Natural Gas Transport System Development Plan, for which the environmental approval issued by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests was obtained, Transgaz proposes significant investment projects, estimated at €3.4 billion, investments for the strategic and sustainable development of the natural gas transport infrastructure in Romania and its compliance with the requirements of European regulations in the field.
General objectives for protecting the environment include preventing pollution by promoting and implementing the best available techniques and protecting the environment through the efficient and sustainable use of natural resources and energy. Monitoring and continuous improvement of environmental performance are also considered to protect biodiversity and ecosystems.
Another objective of the company is to increase the level of awareness and training of employees regarding the compliance aspects of environmental protection.
Among the objectives specific to the field of activity are the inclusion of pollutants in the emission limit values and the monitoring of pollution sources.
As main actions, the company lists: reducing the impact of technological processes on the environment; drawing up action plans for compliance, tracking and reporting their achievement; monitoring of pollution sources in relation to Transgaz objectives, according to the Environmental Authorizations held by the company.
The company also planned the identification and evaluation of environmental aspects through the annual program Monitoring of Pollution Sources and Evaluation of Environmental Aspects.
Another objective is the promotion of investment projects that contribute to the realization of a sustainable natural gas transport system, under the safety conditions provided by the legislation in force, with the limitation of the impact on the environment and the population.
Transgaz proposed that the implementation of the projects should be done in such a way that the impact on biodiversity is minimal.