In 2010, SIBUR doubled spending on environmental protection measures

Moscow, April 21, 2011. Based on the results from 2010, SIBUR allocated 2.6 bln rubles for implementing environmental measures. This sum is 97% more than the amount allotted in 2009. As a result, air pollutant emissions by SIBUR enterprises in 2010 decreased by 11%.

Significantly reduced emissions at the Perm-based plant are associated with the end of construction of the new ethyl benzene production facility and the decommissioning of the old one. The application of modern technologies based on zeolite catalysts shall enable a complete halt hydrogen chloride and aromatic hydrocarbon emissions into the atmosphere, as well as wastewater pollution by chlorides, aluminium salts and phenols.

In addition, wastewater treatment plants were built and renovated during the year at the “Nyagangazpererabotke”, Muravlenkovskoye Gas Treatment Plant and “Omskshina” facilities. At “Tobolsk-Neftekhim”, improvements include an upgraded fire water main, repairs to the shop, the neutralisation and purification of industrial wastewater treatment and the water supply intake for the fish protection system.

A slight increase in wastewater disposal was due to the resumption of treatment facilities’ operation at the “Voronezhsintezkauchuke” and South-Balyksky Gas Treatment Plant after a radical overhaul involving the transition to a full bacterial treatment of water used in the industrial units.

The sum paid for negative impacts on the environment in 2010 was 14% less than in 2009, decreasing to 41.7 mln rubles.

SIBUR considers one of the most important parts of its environmental mission to be the processing of associated petroleum gas (APG), which forms during the oil production process. In 2010, APG processing increased by 3.9% compared with 2009, amounting to 17.45 bln cubic metres.

In 2010, SIBUR confirmed receipt of a certificate of compliance with the corporate environmental management system required for the international standard ISO 14001:2004. In 2010, SIBUR adopted an Environmental Code of Conduct for its employees. The 2010 annual social report for SIBUR was devoted to the environmental performance of the company and the petrochemical industry on the whole.

The company sells a range of environmental projects within the framework of charitable programs. In 2010, the company realised the latest stage of the project “Plants make kids healthy”, through which childcare centres are equipped with a specially selected set of plants with phyto properties. It also held the “Ecotour” competition for environmental materials in the media.

Due to the increased transparency in the reporting and quality, reporting on the Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR)* in 2010 rose to 1.16. The number of recorded injured workers increased by 75% in 2010 compared to 2009 (up to 127 people). About half of all incidents were related to minor injuries from falls while walking. SIBUR’s LTIFR stands on par with the world's leading petrochemical companies. In 2011, the company aims to reduce this injury rate to 1.1.

In 2010, SIBUR allocated 3.6 bln rubles for measures aimed at occupational health and industrial safety. In particular, the company performed diagnostics on equipment and acquired new personal protective equipment. In addition, nine teams of internal coaches have been formed, who have trained more than 1500 line managers for the company. Since 2010, in order to increase motivation and responsibility, business units began to use an efficiency improvement coefficient and the “Champion” programme (through which 776 leaders were identified and encouraged). Many programmes and projects focusing on the safe production were developed and implemented through a contract with the international company DuPont.

In addition, in 2010, SIBUR developed corporate standards for cooperating with contractors in the field of occupational health and safety, as well as standards for transportation security and internal audits on the HSE management system.

In 2011, the company’s main objectives in the field of environmental protection, occupational health and industrial safety continue to focus on diminishing environmental impacts, improving the corporate environmental management system, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries among employees, and improving the system for managing occupational health and industrial safety.

Background information:

* In world practice, the frequency rate of injuries involving temporary disability (Lost time injury frequency rate, LTIFR) and the frequency rate for accidents (Lost time accident frequency rate, LTAFR) are in the basic performance indicators for companies in the field of occupational health and safety.

LTIFR = (total working time lost as a result of injuries) × (1 million man-hours) / (total hours worked during business hours).