Tatneft, Zarubezhneft and Sakhalin Energy topped the ninth annual rating of environmental transparency of oil and gas companies of Russia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. This was reported to TASS on Thursday by the press service of the World Wildlife Fund.
"Unlike the results of the last rating, when the first three positions were shared between six companies (due to the equal number of points), this year the rating is headed by three companies: Tatneft, Zarubezhneft and Sakhalin Energy. Despite a number of factors which this year negatively affected industry-wide indicators, the overall level of transparency has remained almost unchanged since last year. First of all, it evidences that some participating companies steadily keep the course towards transparency," the report says.
The calculation was based on the data for 2021. 21 companies from Russia, 14 from Kazakhstan and 2 from Azerbaijan participated in the rating. In addition, for the first time in 2022 a company from Uzbekistan was rated. In the 2022 rating analysts note multidirectional dynamics in the average industry results of Russian companies. For example, the indicators of specific water consumption, land pollution and the share of utilized and neutralized waste have improved, while the coefficient of utilization of associated petroleum gas, specific emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere have deteriorated.
"The results of the rating in 2022 showed a number of alarming signals. Thus, the average industry indicators of environmental impact continued to deteriorate for a number of quantitative criteria. In particular, the trend of increased flaring of associated petroleum gas and increased greenhouse gas emissions persists. We have also recorded a deterioration in environmental information disclosure: a number of companies have completely removed this data from the public space. In 2023 there will be much work to change the situation", said Head of the program on environmental responsibility of business of World Wildlife Fund Alexey Knizhnikov, whose words are given in the report.
Analyzing the data obtained during the study, the organizers of the rating also found that in 2022, individual businesses have created special sections on accidents. If such a useful initiative is picked up by other companies, it will increase business transparency on acute problems, strengthen public confidence and develop a constructive dialogue on reducing the risks of emergencies.
"The current year has brought certain adjustments in information disclosure by companies. Thus, a number of players have completely closed or significantly reduced the volume of disclosed non-financial reports. At the same time, a significant number of companies in the oil and gas industry have kept their information open, which is a positive signal and gives hope that the previous course of sustainable development of the industry will be maintained," added General Director of the ACRA RM Rating Agency Alexei Mukhin.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Public Domain
Based on materials from TASS