Managing Environmental Impact
Protecting the environment and minimising negative environmental impacts from the Company’s operations are among FPC’s highest priorities. JSC FPC complies with the environmental legislation of the Russian Federation, follows the Parent Company Environmental Strategy, the JSC FPC Development Strategy until 2030, and the Company’s standard 1.16.001–2016 FPC Environmental Management System.
FPC involves investment, CAPEX, and operational initiatives in pursuit of its environmental safety goals.
Regulatory and Environmental Aspects in relation to the Company’s Operations
As of the end of 2022, JSC FPC systematically achieves the environmental indicators of the JSC FPC Development Strategy until 2030:
- Increase in the share of waste transfer for neutralisation, utilisation, treatment and recycling to 48% of the level of waste generation
- Air pollutant emissions were reduced from 8,000 to 3,250 tonnes
- Decrease in water resource use (water consumption) from 9.4 million
to 5.2 million m³ - Water discharge was reduced from 5.5 million
to ≈3.2 million m³
Such reduction was achieved by optimising operations and processes across the Company’s branches, adopting new technology, and maintaining consistent supervision.
To reduce the anthropogenic impact of passenger services, FPC upgraded its rolling stock and facilities across its branches.
The Company prevents environmental contamination and maintains an adequate level of sanitation at rail infrastructure by acquiring only carriages equipped with environmentally friendly toilet facilities. Also, environmentally friendly toilet facilities are installed on carriages, which undergo overhaul.
Hazardous Waste Handling
During 2022, the Company generated a total of 102,000 tonnes of waste of hazard classes I-V, of which more than 33% (about 34,000 tonnes) was waste from passenger carriage cleaning.
The increase in waste generation in 2022 is due to an increase in passenger turnover, as well as the implementation of measures for separate collection of waste.
More than 48% (49,000 tonnes) of generated waste was transferred for treatment, recycling and disposal, which is 22,900 tonnes more than in 2021.
The specific value of waste transferred for treatment, recycling and disposal (for passenger traffic) was 0.61 kg / thousand passenger-kilometres in 2022, which was 55% higher than in 2021 (0.39 kg / thousand passenger-kilometres).
The specific value of waste diverted for disposal (per passenger turnover) in 2022 was 0.63 kg / thousand passenger-km, 24% less than in 2021
Air Protection and Climate Impact
In the reporting year, the Company’s gross pollutant emissions amounted to 3,246 tonnes, which is 0.75% higher than in 2021.
A slight increase in pollutant emissions is due to increased coal consumption in 2022 as compared to 2021.
At the same time, the specific pollutant emissions (per passenger turnover) in 2022 was 0.040 kg / thousand passenger-km, which is 16% lower than in 2021 (0.048 kg / thousand passenger-km).
The main Company’s measures to reduce pollutant emissions into the air include the gasification of boiler houses, construction of high-voltage posts for heating passenger carriages in the turnover and makeup points, and reduction in the consumption of coal and fuel oil.
The following was accomplished in 2022:
- 433 carriages with centralised power supply were purchased
- High-voltage heating posts were installed at the turnaround and makeup points: at the Dacha Dolgoruky maintenance points of the Northwest Branch and the Anapa and Novorossiysk Passenger Carriage Depot of the North Caucasus Branch
A slight increase in direct greenhouse gas emissions is associated with an increase in coal consumption in 2022, relative to 2021.
At the same time, specific direct greenhouse gas emissions in 2022 (per passenger turnover) amounted to 3.20 kg СО2-eq / thousand passenger-km, which is 16% lower than in 2021 (3.81 kg СО2-eq / thousand passenger-km).
The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is achieved through the following.
- Energy efficiency – the Company is taking measures to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions:
- Purchasing new, advanced, and energy-efficient rolling stock
- Using energy-saving technologies in the Company’s depot and site lighting systems (LEDs and smart control systems)
- Introducing modern water boilers and steam boilers at power facilities
- Decommissioning and conservation of low-efficient facilities
- Development of the charging infrastructure (construction of charging columns and high-voltage carriage heating columns)
- Equipping buildings and facilities with heat and power metering devices
- Decarbonisation of the fuel balance – measures are taken to reduce the share of coal and fuel oil in the Company’s fuel balance:
- Implementing projects to upgrade boiler houses and convert them from solid/liquid fuel to gas
- Reduction of emissions in the production process – the Company uses technologies and methods that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the production process:
- Switching to separate waste accumulation in order to reduce the share of waste going to landfill
- Using biofuels
- Management of emissions from vehicles – the Company takes measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport operations:
- Renewing the fleet (operating more efficient vehicles and reducing fuel consumption)
Sustainable Water Use
In order to reduce the amount of waste water that may have a negative impact on the environment and operation of centralised wastewater disposal systems, the Company implements programs for retrofitting treatment facilities and carriage washing facilities by furnishing them with a closed-loop water supply system and local treatment facilities.
In particular, the following works are carried out:
- Retrofitting carriage washing facilities featuring water recirculation systems
- Upgrading water supply and sewer networks
- Retrofitting the Company’s buildings and structures with water consumption and discharge meters