OREANDA-NEWS.   Dedicated environmental programmes implemented at SIBUR in 2013 reduced wastewater effluents by 3% and air pollutant emissions by 4% year-on-year.
Despite commissioning of new production facilities, industrial wastes increased insignificantly (by 1%), with almost 40% of them used at the Company's subsidiaries to improve the overall environmental footprint.
In 2013, SIBUR invested a total of RUB 1.3 bln in the environmental protection measures. This figure is comparable with the 2012 investments, while pollution charges in 2013 decreased by 15% year-on-year down to RUB 24.3 mln.
The environmental projects implemented by the Company in 2013 include flare system modernisation at Tomskneftekhim's monomer production, a new water treatment technology for the power boilers at SIBUR-Kstovo, an automated air quality monitoring system at SIBUR-Khimprom, upgraded treatment facilities at the Gubkinsky GPP, and replacement of an air drying station at the Krasnoyarsk Synthetic Rubbers Plant.
Processing of associated petroleum gas (APG), an oil by-product, is SIBUR's key environmental target. In 2013, APG processing at SIBUR subsidiaries increased by 4.8% year-on-year up to 19.6 bcm. The recovery rate of desired fractions in APG processing improved from 90.3% in 2012 to 95.6% in 2013. According to experts, combustion of 1 mcm of APG emits 300 tonnes of pollutants, including toxic substances, into the atmosphere. This means that SIBUR's APG processing effort in 2013 alone prevented the emission of almost 6 mt of pollutants.
In 2013, certain subsidiaries of the Company, including Voronezhsintezkauchuk, Tomskneftekhim, SIBUR-Khimprom and the Gubkinsky Gas Processing Plant, conducted the second audit of the Corporate Environmental Management System (CEMS) for compliance with ISO 14001:2004. The audit confirmed the CEMS compliance with the ISO 14001:2004 requirements. Auditors of Bureau Veritas Certification Rus, an independent certification body, appreciated our high environmental awareness both in social and industrial areas, targeted financing of environmental initiatives, comprehensive upgrade programme focused, among other things, on improvement of the environmental footprint, and successful energy efficiency programme. About 2 thousand employees of the Company underwent the CEMS development and improvement training. 
Throughout 2013, the Company was continuing its corporate Business for Environment programme targeted at supporting environmental initiatives in the regions of its operations. SIBUR provided financial support to 44 events involving over 15 thousand people.
In 2013, SIBUR held the 4th IQ-Chem International Ideas Awards, with most applications received in the environmental category.
In early 2014 the Company joined the Responsible Care programme, a global voluntary initiative committed to continuous improvement in health, safety and environmental practices. Members of the programme are required to report their HSE performance to a national competent authority (the Chemists Union – in Russia), carry out HSE audits, including those performed by international auditors, implement social development projects and enhance their social responsibility.