GAIL recommits itself to enabling a Cleaner Greener India on World Environment Day
New Delhi, June 5, 2017: GAIL (India) Limited, over the years has exhibited its commitment towards the resorting the environmental balance in the country. Since 1972, every year on 5th June, World Environment Day is celebrated globally in order to raise awareness about depletion of environment, its implications and measures to correct the same. This agenda is in line with GAIL’s commitment towards taking position action aimed at protecting the environment and refraining from practises which has an adverse impact.
Over this year, GAIL has been actively engaged in bettering the environmental situation in the country through a slew of initiatives, in a sustained manner. Some of these initiatives include the Water Management Initiative at GAIL Vaghodia which has resulted in annual saving of approx. 8760 tonnes of water purchased from GIDC with financial saving of INR 3 lac; the Roof Top Solar Captive power project which has a yearly power production of about 7.5 Millons KWH and theWaste Heat Recovery Project at Vijaipur which is aimed at fuel gas saving of about 0.026 MMSCMD and reduction in flue gas emissions is about 13 T/H.
In line with efforts to conserve energy and be environmentally conscious, GAIL has adopted theGreen Building concept in all new building projects. As a result, the GAIL Jubilee Tower has received LEED Platinum certification by IGBC and the Chhainsa Unit has received a 4 star GRIHA rating for green building. Extensive afforestation is carried out at all GAIL locations maintaining at least one third of the area as Green belt at each site. Most programmes begin with planting tree saplings by officers such as “Each one Plant One”. The total green belt area of total land holdings of GAIL is 41% which is about 17.2 million square mtrs. In fact the Biodiversity assessment survey conducted at GAIL Vaghodia Complex in FY 2016-17 indicated that around 60 trees are planted around the plant area and 70% of the total area is covered by the green belt. Additionally to further reduce carbon footprint, GAIL is promoting video conferencing extensively, increasing the video conferencing hours by about six times from FY 14-15 to FY 16-17.
GAIL’s leadership in renewable energy is evident from their initiatives in this regard. As a part of GAIL’s strategy 2020 initiative, out of the targeted 500 MW wind power capacity by 2020 the company GAIL has successfully set up wind power projects of 118 MW across states of Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. A 5 MW Solar Power Plant Project was installed by GAIL at Jaisalmer. This project was registered by UNFCCC as CDM project. In accordance of the MoU signed between MNRE & MoP&NG, GAIL is one of the stakeholders in SPV, which is setting up of Grid Connected Renewable Energy Power Projects. The SPV will set-up about 1000 MW of Wind & Solar Grid Connected Renewable Energy Power Projects every year for five years.
GAIL’s commitment to Waste Management is demonstrated through the solid waste management activity initiated at Pata. This ensured not only a cleaner area providing better and safe access to SLF and improving the environmental performance but it also ensured an effective compliance to Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Trans boundary Movement) Rules, 2016. Continuing this regular activity, helps in improving the safety and environmental conditions of the entire complex and the offsite areas.
Additionally, GAIL had taken up a pilot project that is registered with the UNFCCC for availing carbon credits, to capture Landfill Gas (LFG) from Ghazipur landfill. 20 LFG wells were constructed for the collection and extraction of LFG. At present, part of the recovered LFG is being safely destroyed in an enclosed flare system and part of it is also being used to generate electricity through a Micro-Turbine.