Qatar: RasGas Releases 2012 Sustainability Report

RasGas Releases 2012 Sustainability Report

RasGas has issued its Sustainability Report 2012, the fourth such report, with the theme Caring For Our Resources. It closely tracks the Company’s concern for the sustainability of the people who live and work in Qatar, the sustainability of the energy the Company produces and the sustainability of the environment around us that is precious for the long term health and safety of the community.

Hamad Rashid Al Mohannadi, RasGas’ Chief Executive Officer said: “RasGas is aware that in order to continue to meet the growing demand for clean energy, we need to optimise operational output while minimising waste. We work very hard to conserve and protect our resources such as energy and water and enhance workforce and community health.”

“Sustainable Development is a long but essential journey for every country and every company. Our Report has become an integral part of this journey and enables us to transparently share our progress, challenges and achievements with all our stakeholders. We measure ourselves against international benchmarks in environmental, social, economic and corporate performance in 2012,” he added.

As RasGas continues to make good progress on major construction projects like the Barzan Gas Project and Helium 2. It has maintained the highest standards of safety and health in both these projects and existing operations, as well as expanded its contribution to Qatar’s sustainable development.

“We are aware that in order to continue contributing to the State’s economy while meeting the growing demand for clean energy, we need to produce reliably while minimising waste. This Report highlights the efforts we make to care for our people and our resources to honour our commitments,” said Al Mohannadi.

In its continued efforts to operate in a sustainable manner, RasGas achieved many noteworthy milestones in 2012.

RasGas continued to maintain a safe work environment for its employees and contractors. The Company’s lost-time injury rate (LTIR) was 0.01 in 2012, which included almost 70 million hours worked last year compared to 30 million in 2011. Construction projects such as the Barzan Gas Project more than doubled the scale of RasGas’ contractor workforce adding to its complexity. In spite of this, RasGas ranked as the best performer when compared with 20 of the largest companies in the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers’ safety performance benchmarking report.

In order to reduce emissions, the Company agreed on a greenhouse gas (GHG) strategy that sets the context for action that it will take over five years and beyond. Achieving the goals of the strategy requires addressing the key drivers of emissions, and using the human and technical resources at the Company’s disposal.

In 2012, RasGas launched its second five-year flare minimisation programme which is set to continue the trend of downward emissions of CO2, ultimately targeting 90% reduction from the flaring levels of 2005. Investments in new equipment and technology have also reduced GHG emissions of other pollutants.

RasGas’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, which focuses on one cornerstone each year, was dedicated to Health in 2012. The programme promoted numerous other health-related initiatives involving employees and the community to prevent illness and encouraged a positive lifestyle.

The 2012 Sustainability Report was prepared in accordance with guidelines on sustainability reporting from shareholder company Qatar Petroleum and adopts guidance specific to the oil and gas industry prepared by the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).

RasGas was the first Qatari energy company to issue a sustainability report, in 2009. Earlier this year, the Company’s 2011 report earned RasGas first prize in the ‘large company’ category for sustainability reporting under the QP Sustainable Development Industry Reporting programme.

The RasGas Sustainability Report for 2012 has further improved on the previous reports both in content and presentation by expanding its coverage and making it available online. For the first time, the report will be available in Arabic as well.

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LNG World News Staff, June 17, 2013; Image: RasGas