Climate change is a global environmental problem of the 21st century. The reason for changes in the atmosphere thermal conditions is increase in CO2 atmospheric loading, specifically, due to human activity. A European society has announced its commitment to total decarbonization and upcoming introduction of a cross-border carbon tax. These actions indicate that the climate change issue raised by scientific and political community has passed from the theoretical area to the practical one exerting an impact on business. Tatneft Company recognizes the importance of community demand for green energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and pays due consideration to fundamental changes in utility balance towards less carbon-intensive fuels. Having signed a Memorandum of cooperation with the National network of United Nations Global Compact, Tatneft has set a primary objective of sustainable development No.13 named Combating climate change. To accomplish this objective, the Company plans to execute the following projects: efficient greenhouse gas emission management; search for and implementation of process solutions to reduce direct and indirect emissions; improving production energy efficiency; green energy sector development; study of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology applicability at Tatneft’s assets; implementation of mitigation actions; climate cooperation.
Tatneft has approved a revised version of Company Environmental policy considering climate change. The Company has set goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at its assets, and has established a liability and incentive system for attaining these goals. Accounting of greenhouse gas emissions in the Company complies with the requirements of Russian legislation and international recommendations. An internal greenhouse gas emissions charge has been established. The Сompany implements a Program of carbon footprint reduction and production energy efficiency increase. Currently, the Company uses solar panels, pellet heating systems, and small-scale hydropower plants. Tatneft plans to expand share of renewable energy sources in in-house power generation through wind power projects, downhole power generation, and more extensive use of solar energy. The CCS project is the key to achieving carbon neutrality. CO2 emissions from flue gases coming from TANECO and Nizhnekamsk heat power plant are planned to be used for enhanced oil recovery and underground storage. Mitigation actions are implemented under Circulating Forest Project and Reforesting Program. In 2021, the company plans to plant 5 million seedlings!
TATNEFT is boosting cooperation in climate matters with the parties concerned including government agencies, international and Russian industry associations, companies, investors and financial organizations. The Company is open to cooperation in the field of de-carbonization.
References
1. Tseli v oblasti ustoychivogo razvitiya OON (Objectives in the field of sustainable development), URL: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/ru/.
2. Doklad ob osobennostyakh klimata na territorii Rossiyskoy Federatsii za 2020 god (2020 Report on climate pattern in Russia), Moscow: Publ. of Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Rosgidromet)), 2021, 104 p., URL: https://www.mnr.gov.ru/press/news/rosgidromet_opublikoval_doklad_ob_osobennostyakh_klimata_v_rossii_...
3. Tekhnologicheskiy obzor. Ulavlivanie, ispol'zovanie i khranenie ugleroda (SSUS) (Carbon capture, use and storage (SSUS): technical review), UN Economic Commission for Europe. 36 p., URL: https://unece.org/publications/tekhnologicheskiy-obzor-ulavlivanie-ispolzovanie-i-khranenie-ugleroda...
