ENVIRONMENT

The ORLEN Group uses renewable and non-renewable natural resources in its operations. All our business activities are carried out in a responsible manner, with due consideration to the effects of current and future environmental impacts.

In production processes we use renewable resources (air, water, esters, bioethanol) and non-renewable ones (crude oil, natural gas and auxiliary chemicals).

We take care to ensure that our production processes are environmentally friendly: our projects involved adaptation of plant and process units to new environmental requirements and standards defined in the EU regulations and BAT Conclusions. Those efforts include also administrative work to have the terms of the integrated permits for the Group’s plants amended, as well as capex projects related to the production plant and equipment.

It is a priority for the ORLEN Group to monitor and minimise its environmental footprint:

  • We identify the environmental aspects of our technological processes, and we seek to minimise their impacts on the natural environment and human life and health.
  • We comply with the requirements stipulated under integrated permits secured for our installations.
  • We effectively manage carbon emission allowances.
  • We implement investment projects to adapt process units to new environmental requirements and standards.
  • We ensure effective water and wastewater management.
  • We efficiently manage environmental remediation projects while maintaining and stimulating biodiversity.
  • We invest in low- and zero-emission technologies and renewables.
  • We engage in initiatives that promote environmental awareness and social responsibility.
  • We provide access to information on the environmental impact of our operations and on efforts taken to improve workplace health and safety standards and implement best practices of the Responsible Care Programme.

Our approach to environmental protection management is based on the principles of corporate social responsibility and takes into account environmental criteria. We aim for sustainable development and we report the results of our environmental protection efforts. Our environmental objectives are set out in the Integrated Management System Policy.

Our activities are carried out based on the Integrated Management System, which includes:

  • The Quality Management System (ISO 9001: 2015, AQAP 2110),
  • Environmental Management System (ISO 14001:2015),
  • Occupational Health And Safety Management System (ISO 45001),
  • Information Security Management System (ISO/IEC 27001),
  • Energy Management System (ISO 50001),
  • Certification System for Biomass and Biofuels ISCC,
  • KZR INiG certification system for the HVO process,
  • Factory Production Control System (ZKP) – for bitumen production,
  • Food Safety Management System (HACCP) according to Codex Alimentarius.

PKN ORLEN has valid certificates of compliance with ISO 9001: 2015, AQAP 2110, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO 50001, Biomass and Biofuel Certification System (ISCC), Sustainability Certification System for Biomass and Biofuels (KZR INiG) and Factory Production Control System (ZKP).

These systems meet the highest international management standards and support the Company’s day-to-day efforts to ensure professional customer service and maintain top quality, safety, health protection and environmental standards. The key ORLEN Group companies have Integrated Management Systems in place, which include an Environmental Management System implemented and maintained in accordance with the ISO 14001 standard as their integral part. The Group companies also follow Integrated Management System/ Environmental Management System Policies, providing for an obligation to protect the environment, which includes pollution prevention and other specific obligations relevant to the operations of individual companies. These policies also include a requirement to comply with the law and other external and internal requirements.

For key policies and procedures governing climate and environmental protection issues at the ORLEN Group, see ‘Policies and internal regulations’ ; for further information on the projects implemented in 2020, see ‘Climate responsibility’.

This Integrated Report also describes initiatives and metrics for key climate and environmental impact aspects, such as water and wastewater managementatmospheric emissions (including GHG emissions), waste, capital expenditure on environmental protection, environmental complaints, number and weight of significant spills. This Report presents the Group’s approach to energy management, information on raw materials and production processes, environmental and climate impact risks and the mitigation measures.

With regard to the foregoing, PKN ORLEN has in place a dedicated procedure to be followed in emergency situations and respects the obligations to notify the relevant services. The Emergency Manual defines the procedure for appointment and operation of Technical Teams and Emergency Teams, as well as the method of calculating losses resulting from an emergency event.

The ORLEN Group initiates educational projects aimed at raising the environmental awareness of its stakeholders. Group companies take part in initiatives such as protecting peregrine falcons, fish stocking of rivers, cleaning of waterfront areas, and beekeeping in the vicinity of production plants. For more information, see ‘Biodiversity protection’.

Water

Total amount of water collected in the ORLEN Group [m3]: The amount of groundwater collected in the ORLEN Group [m3]: The amount of surface water collected in the ORLEN Group [m3]: The amount of tap water collected in the ORLEN Group [m3]: 350,000,000 0 50,000,000 100,000,000 150,000,000 200,000,000 250,000,000 300,000,000 331,770,145 2020 94,087,784 2019 90,278,813 2018 86,406,615 2017 82,679,160 2016 84,087,615 2015 350,000,000 0 50,000,000 100,000,000 150,000,000 200,000,000 250,000,000 300,000,000 327,031,321 2020 89,090,471 2019 85,722,181 2018 84,269,186 2017 79,233,690 2016 80,848,285 2015 3,000,000 0 500,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,000,000 2,500,000 1,581,749 2020 1,555,827 2019 1,536,927 2018 1,325,125 2017 2,489,807 2016 2,404,451 2015 4,000,000 0 500,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,000,000 2,500,000 3,000,000 3,500,000 3,157,075 2020 3,441,486 2019 3,019,705 2018 812,304 2017 955,663 2016 834,879 2015

Waterrecirculation

Water reused at the ORLEN Group [m3]Reported since 2019 2,120,000,000 0 1,980,000,000 1,690,000,000 2,000,000,000 2,020,000,000 2,060,000,000 2,080,000,000 2,100,000,000 2019 2,018,056,814 2020 2,097,861,799

Waste

Waste generated by the ORLEN Group* [Mg]: Non-hazardous waste generated by the ORLEN Group [Mg]: Hazardous waste generated by the ORLEN Group [Mg]: 350,000,000 0 50,000,000 100,000,000 150,000,000 200,000,000 250,000,000 300,000,000 291,636 2020 220,524 2019 169,084 2018 212,969 2017 175,244 2016 160,353 2015 120,000 0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 81,295 2020 112,745 2019 72,009 2018 100,128 2017 75,305 2016 73,276 2015 3,000,000 0 500,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,000,000 2,500,000 210,341 2020 107,779 2019 97,075 2018 112,841 2017 99,939 2016 87,077 2015 * Does not include municipal waste.

Transferof waste

Cross-border transport of hazardous waste from the ORLEN Group [Mg] 10,000 0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 9,000 8,000 8,766 2020 6,370 2019 6,604 2018 5,178 2017 6,406 2016 5,636 2015

Effluents

Total amount of waste water discharged into the environment by the ORLEN Group [m3]: Total amount of industrial wastewater discharged into the environment by the ORLEN Group [m3]: Total amount of remaining sewage discharged into the environment by the ORLEN Group [m3]: 350,000,000 0 50,000,000 100,000,000 150,000,000 200,000,000 250,000,000 300,000,000 304,057,021 2020 50,914,539 2019 50,691,326 2018 51,788,570 2017 45,466,441 2016 53,117,602 2015 350,000,000 0 50,000,000 100,000,000 150,000,000 200,000,000 250,000,000 300,000,000 298,448,352 2020 44,397,037 2019 44,039,987 2018 45,381,655 2017 38,587,398 2016 43,460,856 2015 12,000,000 0 2,000,000 4,000,000 6,000,000 8,000,000 10,000,000 5,608,669 2020 6,517,502 2019 6,651,339 2018 6,406,915 2017 6,879,043 2016 9,656,746 2015

Enviromentalfees and charges

Total environmental fees of the ORLEN Group [EUR]: Water withdrawal [EUR]: Landfilling of waste [EUR]: Total air emissions [EUR]: Discharge of wastewater [EUR]: 20,000,000 0 500,000 10,000,000 8,000,000 6,000,000 4,000,000 2,000,000 12,000,000 14,000,000 16,000,000 18,000,000 13,835,954 2020 14,179,966 2019 14,500,844 2018 17,261,816 2017 15,736,217 2016 12,052,867 2015 8,000,000 0 2,000,000 1,000,000 3,000,000 4,000,000 5,000,000 6,000,000 7,000,000 5,265,081 2020 4,871,093 2019 4,807,520 2018 5,458,151 2017 5,147,891 2016 6,700,440 2015 12,000,000 0 2,000,000 4,000,000 6,000,000 8,000,000 10,000,000 7,709,365 2020 8,643,000 2019 8,757,538 2018 11,234,274 2017 9,911,412 2016 4,659,403 2015 1,000,000 0 300,000 200,000 100,000 400,000 500,000 600,000 700,000 800,000 900,000 817,017 2020 620,635 2019 906,563 2018 529,371 2017 612,629 2016 599,937 2015 100,000 0 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 60,000 70,000 80,000 90,000 44,491 2020 45,238 2019 29,223 2018 40,020 2017 64,285 2016 93,087 2015

Capital expenditureon environmental protection

Expenditure on environmental investments at the ORLEN Group [EURm]: 140 0 40 20 60 80 100 120 66.6 2020 40.5 2019 123.4 2018 24.8 2017 22 2016 76.9 2015

Penalties for non-compliance withenvironmental regulations

[EUR ‘000] 70 0 20 10 30 40 50 60 1.1 2020 18.8 2019 5.5 2018 42.4 2017 36.3 2016 58.7 2015

Complaints

Number of complaints filed and handled by the ORLEN Group [number] 180 0 80 60 40 20 100 120 140 160 88 2020 42 2019 54 2018 42 2017 162 2016 72 2015

Significantspills

Number of spills [number]Measured since 2017 Volume of spills [Mg]Measured since 2017 14 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 8 2020 10 2019 6 2018 13 2017 250 0 50 100 150 200 approx. 31 2020 140 2019 211 2018 24 2017

Use of biocomponentsmeeting sustainably criteria

Esters [tonnes] Bioethanol [tonnes] 900,000 0 400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000 500,000 600,000 700,000 800,000 765,320 2020 852,758 2019 816,984 2018 810,369 2017 699,084 2016 640,709 2015 300,000 0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000 243,093 2020 264,175 2019 259,780 2018 229,643 2017 225,092 2016 234,368 2015

Energy consumptionwithin the organisation****

Description

 

2020

2019

2018

2017

GRI indicator

Value
[GJ]

Value
[MWh]

Value
[GJ]

Value
[MWh]

Value
[GJ]

Value
[MWh]

Value
[GJ]

Value
[MWh]

GRI 302-1

Energy consumption in fuels

121,220,075

33,672,243

98,769,007

27,435,835

84,187,991

23,385,553

83,280,501

23,133,472

Electricity consumption

2,268,361

630,100

2,304,094

640,026

2,211,043

614,179

2,187,400

607,611

Heat consumption

4,221,813

1,172,726

5,579,603

1,549,890

6,825,492

1,895,970

6,252,290

1,736,747

Electricity sold

47,609,725

13,224,924

33,938,256

9,427,293

24,984,321

6,940,089

24,786,031

6,885,009

Heat sold

38,533,070

10,703,631

36,321,662

10,089,351

34,012,153

9,447,820

35,262,356

9,795,099

Total consumption*****

35 077,280

9,743,689

28,509,089

7,919,191

25,191,517

6,997,644

23,232,114

6,453,365


**** Total consumption is calculated as the difference between each unit’s consumption of energy in fuel and energy sold to external and internal customers.
*****Reported since 2017

Installed capacity,broken down by primary energy source

Description 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015  GRI indicator
  Mwe (electrical capacity) MWt (thermal capacity)            
Natural gas 1,027.6 1,530.32 Measured since 2020 GRI G4 EU1
Fuel oil/natural gas 522.5 3,252
Hard coal 673.31 569.46
Lignite 141.5 1,258.4
Biomass-fired generation unit 25 30
Wind power plants 359.29 0
Solar power plants 5.41 0
Hydroelectric power plants 243.85 0
Power plants 608.55 0
CHP plants 2,389.91 6,578.22
Heat plants 0 61.96

Net energy outputbroken down by primary energy source

Description 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 GRI indicator
  Electricity [MWh] Heat [GJ]            
Natural gas 6,808,582 6,139,229 Measured since 2020 GRI G4 EU2
Multi-fuel units (fuel oil/natural gas) 1,640,215 23,268,178
Lignite 1,212,232 5,471,943
Hard coal* 2,728,751 3,653,720
Wind farms 338,366 none
Solar power generation 3,373 none
Hydroelectric power plants 493,405 none

* Since it is not possible to present separately electricity generated from biomass and the type of unit, electricity generated by biomass combustion installations is included in energy generated from hard coal.

Average generation efficiency of CHP plantsby energy source

Description

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

GRI indicator

Efficiency of electricity generation
by thermal plants (%)

39.73%

Measured since 2020

GRI G4 EU11

Total generation efficiency of thermal plants (%)

71.70%

Efficiency of electricity generation

Fuel oil

14.59%

Lignite

32.53%

Natural gas

48.52%

Hard coal*

66.79%

Efficiency of electricity generation
by CHP plants (%)

32.76%

Efficiency of electricity generation
by power plants (%)

83.23%


*Since it is not possible to present separately electricity generated from biomass and the type of unit, electricity generated by biomass combustion installations is included in energy generated from hard coal

 

 

 

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