En+ Group reveals 2020 sustainability report

On 20^th July, the world’s largest producer of low carbon aluminium, En+ Group published its 2020 sustainability report. The report is stuffed with details of achievements over the 12 months to 31 December 2020, tracks the progress of ongoing initiatives and programmes, and delineate significant short-term sustainability targets and long-term ambitions.

Furthermore to restating En+ Group’s ongoing commitment to continuous ESG performance improvement, the report also outlines two industry-leading developments announced in early 2021, out of them one is the development of the world’s lowest carbon aluminium from inert anode technologies, while the other is Company’s stated ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

En+ Group’s 2020 highlights include:

• A total social investment of $71 million covering its 2020 response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the delivery of vital food and supplies to 16,000 elderly and retired employees, development of a 60-bed COVID-19 hospital in Guinea, and the construction of 7 COVID-19 centres for communities in Russia.
• The ongoing progress of the New Energy Programme which was launched in 2007 and will deliver wide-scale modernisation of hydropower plants in Siberia. While investment in the programme runs to 2046, its impact is immediate - it is expected it will lead to an increase in this generation of renewable energy of 2bn kWh by 2022.
• Becoming the first power producer in Russia to trade I-RECs, with each certificate representing 1 MWh of electricity produced through our renewable energy sources. This underlines the Group’s complete focus on addressing the global climate crisis and commitment to transparency.
• Significant progress in its EHS management system, resulting in a 22% reduction in occupational diseases and driving the introduction of 13 new programmes of personal safety self-assessment.
• A Carbon Disclosure Project rating of ‘A-‘ for the metals segment, a first for the aluminium industry, and establishing us as one of the 160 leading CDP companies out of more than 4,800 participants committed to reducing climate risk throughout the entire supply chain.

However, the other noteworthy developments include:

• The establishment of 8 new ESG policies, underlining its commitment to the highest standards in corporate governance.
• A $139,000 investment in a pilot project of charging stations for electric vehicles in Siberia.
• The introduction of an eco-friendly pitch at Krasnoyarsk smelter will contribute to a 60% reduction in benzo[a]pyrene emissions in the coming years.

Lord Barker, Executive Chairman of En+ Group, said: “I am proud of the clear and wide-ranging ESG progress that we made in 2020, especially given the extraordinarily challenging operating conditions created by the pandemic. However, that did not stop us from continuing to drive forward our ambitious sustainability mission and preparing the ground for the two most significant announcements we have ever made in relation to our sustainability performance: our industry-leading targets for greenhouse gas emissions reduction, with a clear ambition of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050; and the success of our new-generation inert anode electrolysers allowing us to produce the lowest carbon aluminium ever created.”

“As the world’s largest producer of low carbon aluminium, En+ Group’s commitments and achievements are fundamental to the transformation of the wider industry. We are determined to continue to lead our sector to a greener, and ultimately net zero, future.”

Vladimir Kiryukhin, CEO of En+ Group, said: “Much has been written about the impact of the pandemic on families, communities and businesses around the world. Our 2020 Sustainability Report details En+ Group’s response to the challenges we faced. I am proud of the Company’s commitment to the health and wellbeing of its people, past and present, and humbled by the dedication shown by our employees across the world.”

“Most notable was the commitment showed by workers at our hydropower plants and smelters, many of whom volunteered to isolate themselves from their families and friends, often for weeks at a time, to maintain the steady supply of renewable energy that homes and businesses across Siberia rely upon. Their selflessness at such a critical time was essential for millions of people”.

In accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Reporting Standards, the report has been prepared.  It aims to deliver transparency around the Group’s 2020 achievements and highlights areas for improvement, while it includes in-depth disclosure of non-financial information pertaining to material ESG issues.