RasGas well-placed to be steward of Qatar’s hydrocarbon resources

RasGas achieved the highest operational reliability at more than 99% in 2013.

RasGas Company Limited (RasGas) has released its 2013 Sustainability Report, which closely tracks the company’s approach to sustainability while engaging with its various stakeholders on performance, challenges, and strategic choices.

RasGas chief executive officer Rashid al-Mohannadi said the company is aware of the importance of its role as a steward of Qatar’s resources and for its stakeholders and the community.

While embracing the responsibility to develop Qatar’s hydrocarbon resources, al-Mohannadi stressed that RasGas is creating significant contributions to the country’s growth and prosperity.

He said the company’s success is founded on a strong system of governance, clear values, and robust management systems and business processes. “This report highlights the steps taken by the company to be a responsible and accountable corporate citizen that is committed to integrity and transparency,” al-Mohannadi said.

According to al-Mohannadi, RasGas continues to be a safe workplace for its employees and contractors. The company’s lost-time injury rate (LTIR) was 0.01 in 2013, he said.

For the Ras Laffan operations, al-Mohannadi said specific initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, gas flaring, other air pollutants, and waste treatment contributed to improved environmental performance.

RasGas also achieved its highest operational reliability at more than 99% in delivering products to customers.

“A vital part of responsible operations involves caring for people, both employees and contract workers. We do not tolerate harassment or intimidation in the workplace. We pay close attention to the welfare of our workers and we have developed with our prime contractor a wide range of camp-related procedures for their safety, health and security,” al-Mohannadi said.

RasGas carries out regular audits and inspection to guarantee compliance with existing laws, “which is significant because the company subcontracts more than 30,000 workers of 45 nationalities currently working on the Barzan Gas Project.”

The adherence to safety has paid off as the company’s Venture Group chalked up more than 100mn man hours without a lost time incident (LTI) in 2013. This was seen as “commendable” due to the size, scale, and complexity of projects and operations of the company such as the recently completed Helium 2 facility at the ongoing Barzan Gas Project.

The company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, which focuses on one key theme each year, was dedicated to education in 2013 with numerous activities like reading, literacy, technology, and innovation initiatives involving employees and the community.

RasGas was the first Qatari energy company to issue a sustainability report in 2009. Last year, RasGas received the first prize for the second consecutive year in the large company category for sustainability reporting under the Qatar Petroleum (QP) Sustainable Development Industry Reporting initiative.

For the first time, the 2013 report has been subjected to an independent assurance review by Ernst & Young Qatar, giving increased confidence in the information and data presented. The report will be available for the first time in both English and Arabic using a new content management system.

The latest report was prepared in accordance with guidelines on sustainability reporting from shareholder company QP and adopts guidance specific to the oil and gas industry prepared by the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA) and the multi-sector guidelines from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).