Qatalum recently released its first Sustainability Report entitled “Our Sustainable Journey” which details the company’s approach, perspective and progress on several sustainability indicators.
The report, which according to CEO Tom Petter Johansen “celebrates a seven-year journey towards a prosperous and responsible future”, has been awarded Application Level B within the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3.1 framework. Within it, Qatalum presents its baseline sustainability approach covering the company’s most pertinent issues.
Tom Petter added, “Qatar Petroleum’s Sustainability Development Industry initiative has given us the opportunity to present the role we have taken in helping to achieve Qatar’s National Vision 2030, and the ways in which we have - and will continue to - contribute to the economic diversification, social progression, and environmental sustainability of Qatar as it emerges into a new age”.
The lengthy report goes into specific details of: the ‘Qatalum Way’: a clear mission supported by values and principles collectively reflected in our governance and integrated management systems; the Qatarisation policy that seeks to increase the number of local hires through such initiatives as the Qatalum Summer Internship Program; the International Management Systems which Qatalum has incorporated into its assessment structures (ISO 9001: Quality Management System; ISO/TS 16949: Automotive Industry Specific Quality Management System; OHSAS 18001: Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems; and ISO 14001: Environmental Management System); and extensive HSE commitments implementing these systems.
The last third of the report concerns measures taken to mitigate Qatalum’s ecological footprint. The report argues that the company’s operations “emphasise efficiency as the first method of achieving environmental protection: greater efficiency will lead to ‘greener’ operations”. An extensive Environmental Management Manual detailing sources of environmental impact and Qatalum’s approach to tackling each major area of focus, including climate change, water consumption, and waste management has also been created.
Special focus is given to air quality and emissions - the main environmental concerns of any aluminium smelting facility. The high levels of energy required for primary aluminium production lead to high levels of GHG emissions, which contribute directly to global climate change. The report states that the company tackles both of these issues “via proactive tracking and measuring of our emissions and active mitigation efforts to reduce and minimise emissions”.
Water conservation and waste management complete the report, defining techniques and guidelines to minimise water consumption and manage all types of waste produced by Qatalum’s operations and facilities.
The report claims too that Qatalum maintains two major training systems, both of which apply to all employees: the functional and competency training system and the performance training system. The first of these systems develops a training program based on the skills and functions required by a specific job. The second system assesses an employee’s skills and competencies and develops an individual training program based on his/her skill-set and career development plan. Between the two systems, Qatalum employees received an average of 65 training hours each in 2011, according to “Our Sustainable Journey”.
As a demonstration to further Qatalum’s commitment to sustainability, it participated in the COP18 UN Climate Change Conference, with a display of its Best Practice at the Qatar Petroleum stand.
Click below to read sustainability report
Sustainability Report 2012
